Summer Work Groups
Kansas ranks 50th for children’s participation in the Summer Food Service Program because there are not enough sites in Kansas and because many existing sites do not reach enough children. In 2015, Kansas had 35 counties with no SFSP sites, and many other counties did not have enough sites to reach significant numbers of children who eat subsidized meals at school during the academic year.
Expanding SFSP will require communities to work together to increase the number of program sponsors, sites and meals served. Kansas Appleseed is encouraging anti-hunger champions across Kansas to form summer work groups to examine the SFSP in their communities and determine ways to reach more kids. Organizers may consider inviting representatives from schools, faith-based groups, nonprofits, parks and recreation departments, libraries and local government to join the work group.
Potential and existing sponsors may consider forming summer work groups now in anticipation of the May 1, 2016, deadline for sponsors to submit applications to the Kansas State Dept. of Education. (More information on timing for SFSPs is presented in the Food Research & Action Center’s Summer Nutrition Program Implementation Calendar and Guide.)
Work groups can address a number of community-wide SFSP topics, including:
Kansas Appleseed and the Kansas Food Bank are coordinating several informational community meetings to answer questions about summer work groups; click here for a schedule of upcoming meetings. If you would like a Kansas Appleseed advocate to attend or facilitate a meeting in your community, please contact Jacqueline Green at jgreen@kansasappleseed.org.
Expanding SFSP will require communities to work together to increase the number of program sponsors, sites and meals served. Kansas Appleseed is encouraging anti-hunger champions across Kansas to form summer work groups to examine the SFSP in their communities and determine ways to reach more kids. Organizers may consider inviting representatives from schools, faith-based groups, nonprofits, parks and recreation departments, libraries and local government to join the work group.
Potential and existing sponsors may consider forming summer work groups now in anticipation of the May 1, 2016, deadline for sponsors to submit applications to the Kansas State Dept. of Education. (More information on timing for SFSPs is presented in the Food Research & Action Center’s Summer Nutrition Program Implementation Calendar and Guide.)
Work groups can address a number of community-wide SFSP topics, including:
- Where to add sites in 2016
- Recruiting volunteers to work at sites
- Promoting sites to children and families
- Identifying partner organizations
- Offering daily activities at SFSP sites
- Planning menus
- Applying for grants if additional funding is needed
Kansas Appleseed and the Kansas Food Bank are coordinating several informational community meetings to answer questions about summer work groups; click here for a schedule of upcoming meetings. If you would like a Kansas Appleseed advocate to attend or facilitate a meeting in your community, please contact Jacqueline Green at jgreen@kansasappleseed.org.
