CHEYENNE – In an effort to combat hunger and poor nutrition, the Wyoming Department of Education is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

“Last year, Wyoming Summer Food Service Program [SFSP] sites provided 296,071 meals and snacks to children and teenagers,” said WDE Nutrition Team Supervisor Tamra Jackson. “That was an increase of almost 55,000 additional meals over the previous summer, but is still only 50% of the meals we serve to at-risk students during the school year.”

Typical sponsors include public and private nonprofit schools; local, municipal, county, tribal and state government entities; private nonprofit organizations; public and private nonprofit camps; and public and private nonprofit universities or colleges. Sponsors are reimbursed a set amount per each meal served.

Summer food program sites must be in the attendance area of a school where 50 percent or more of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, or the site must be within the boundaries of a U.S. Census block where at least 50 percent of children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals at school. The sites are open to all area children under age 18.

For more information on sponsoring a SFSP in your community, please contact Amanda Anderson at 307-777-7168, or amanda.anderson@wyo.gov. For a listing of current Wyoming SFSP sites, dial 211.