NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: December 6, 2018
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is seeking sponsors to operate the 2019 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in counties across the state of Mississippi. The Summer Food Service Program, administered by the Office of Child Nutrition (OCN), provides nutritious meals to children without regard to race, color, national origin, age (within statutory limits), sex, or disability during summer school vacation periods.
In most areas, the program operates from June-August. Meals and snacks are served to children in places such as schools, playgrounds and parks. Public or private nonprofit schools, units of local, municipal, county or state government, and public or private nonprofit organizations may qualify as sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program. Residential summer camps with enrollment including eligible children may also act as program sponsors.
Qualified sponsors will receive the maximum “meals time rates” operating and administrative reimbursements. To be eligible, sponsors must: (1) show they are financially and administratively capable of operating the program; (2) provide continuing service to the community; and (3) serve meals on a regular schedule to children or provide meals as part of an organized program for enrolled children at camps.
The OCN will be hosting several SFSP informational trainings for potential new SFSP sponsors in various locations across Mississippi. Trainings will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from January 2019 – March 2019.
Potential sponsors should contact MDE’s Office of Child Nutrition immediately to receive registration and location information for each training (No walk-ins will be allowed).
Organizations may contact Mary Clayborne, SFSP director, or April Catchings, SFSP outreach coordinator, at P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205; phone: (601) 576-4954; or e-mail: mclayborne@mdek12.org or acatchings@mdek12.org .
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519