Join Us! Summer Food Celebration Event

PRESS ADVISORY

RELEASE DATE: Thursday, August 13, 2009

CONTACT: Casey Dinkin, Nutrition Consortium of NYS, (518) 229-8845

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FREE MEALS AND FUN FOR ALBANY CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER

Please join our Summer Food Celebration!

WHO:

60+ children who live in the City of Albany
United States Department of Agriculture
New York State Education Department
Nutrition Consortium of NYS

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
State and local officials (TBD)

WHAT:

A Summer Food Celebration! This event will raise awareness of the Summer Food Service Program while providing a fun-filled afternoon for children with free lunch, games, raffles, face painting, and other activities. All summer long, Albany children have been enjoying free meals through this program at various locations throughout the city. Brief remarks by invited speakers will recognize the importance of the Summer Food Service Program, highlighting opportunities to improve this and other nutrition programs for children through upcoming federal legislation, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009.

WHEN:

Thursday, August 13th, 2009
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, formal program at 12:30 pm

WHERE:

Sheridan Park meal site, located at the corner of Dove and Sheridan Streets in Albany

WHY:

Summer can be the hungriest time of year for low-income children, when free and reduced price school meals are no longer available. To address childhood hunger in the summer, the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program allows schools, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals at no charge to children age 18 and younger. At Sheridan Park, the Regional Food Bank and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless have partnered to operate a summer meal site. The Nutrition Consortium, a statewide anti-hunger organization, has joined with these organizations to promote the Summer Food Service Program, and other nutrition assistance programs for children, through this Summer Food Celebration event.
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