FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

CONTACT: Mary Stadick Smith, South Dakota Department of Education, 605-773-7228, mary.stadicksmith@state.sd.us or
Ruth Raveling, South Dakota Department of Education, 605-773-2593, ruth.raveling@state.sd.us

Now is the time to plan: Summer Food Service Program seeking sponsors

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Education’s office of Child and Adult Nutrition Services is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

Community organizations, nonprofits, schools, and tribal and local governments can apply to be sponsors if they operate in low-income areas, serve a group of mostly low-income children, or operate a summer camp with a high proportion of low-income participants. Parks and recreation departments, city and county health departments, libraries, and neighborhood service agencies can participate as sites or sponsors.

“When school is out during the summer, access to healthy meals is limited for many children because they don’t have access to the National School Lunch Program,” said Brigitta Bly, program specialist with South Dakota’s Child and Adult Nutrition Services. “The Summer Food Service Program helps children in low‐income areas continue to receive healthy food.”

There is a high need for Summer Food Service sponsors. In summer 2019, only about 16% of children in need were reached.

Sponsors are needed statewide, with especially high need for new sponsors in the following counties: Aurora, Bennett, Brule, Buffalo, Butte, Charles Mix, Clark, Clay, Corson, Deuel, Dewey, Gregory, Haakon, Hand, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Kingsbury, Miner, Stanley, Turner, and Union.

Organizations interested in reviewing sponsor responsibilities are invited to use the SFSP pre-screen tool at https://ican.sd.gov/ican/PreScreen/PreScreenOverview.aspx by April 2. Once eligibility is determined, department staff will contact sponsors with more information.

To learn more about serving as a sponsor or site, call Child and Adult Nutrition Services at 605-773-3413. For more information, go to http://doe.sd.gov/cans/sfsp.aspx.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)         mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2)          fax: 202-690-7442; or

(3)          email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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