HPARD Summer Food Program Seeking Sites to Fight Childhood Hunger in Houston

Every day throughout the summer, 448,753 Houston-area children are eligible to receive a FREE meal, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Division, yet approximately 83.73% of these children will go without. In an effort to combat this serious hunger problem, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department seeks interested community groups and non-profit institutions to register to become a Summer Food Service Program site and provide FREE lunches and snacks to youth ages 1 to 18. Eligible groups can include churches, apartment complexes, learning centers, schools, and non-profit groups.

The Summer Food Service Program operates from June 1 to August 13, 2010. Nutritious packed lunches and snacks are prepared and delivered daily to each site. No billing or food preparation is required. Free staff training and manuals will be coordinated through HPARD.

Groups and organizations interested in applying to become a site must submit a Request to Participate form before April 16, 2010. The form is available on line at www.houstonparks.org.

This program has been sponsored by the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department since 1984. It is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Division. In accordance with federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination.

For information on the Summer Food Program or on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, please visit us online at www.houstonparks.org or call (832) 395-7022.