Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam encourages non-profit organizations and schools across the state to join the Summer BreakSpot program to help provide nutritional meals to children from low-income families during the summer months.
Last summer, more than 4,200 sites helped serve nearly 16 million meals to Florida children. The number of Summer BreakSpot meals served each summer has increased by 46 percent since Commissioner Putnam and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services assumed responsibility of the program in 2012.
“Many children rely on the Summer BreakSpot program for access to healthy meals during summer,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The department is pursuing increased partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, schools, residential summer camps and faith-based organizations as they are well-positioned to reach unserved children throughout the state.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Summer BreakSpot is administered at the state level by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness and is run in local communities by schools and qualified public and private non-profit organizations.
Through the Summer BreakSpot program, organizations can provide nutritious, no-cost meals to children in low-income areas in addition to a variety of summer programs, including summer camps or academic, sports or other enrichment programs. Qualified organizations will be reimbursed for program operating and administrative expenses based on the number of eligible meals served. To be eligible, organizations must:
- Provide continuing service to the community;
- Serve meals on a regular schedule to children or provide meals as a part of an organized program for children enrolled at camps; and
- Show financial and administrative capability to operate the program.
Training Information:
Required training will be offered online this year for both prospective and returning sponsors. Optional workshops will also be offered regionally for more in-depth guidance.
Summer Food Program Live Training Locations
To learn more about the Summer Food Program, call 1-800-504-6609 or visit FreshFromFlorida.com
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If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
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