summer food service program

By US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Committee on Education and Labor on the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.  Every five years, Congress considers improvements to the Child Nutrition Act, which provides assistance to feed tens of millions of programs through the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Summer Food Service Programs.

During the school year, the National School Lunch Program serves more than 30.9 million students. What happens when school lets out? In the summer, about 1.4 million of these children eat a school meal in summer school, while over 2 million more enjoy breakfasts, lunches or snacks through the Summer Food Service Program. Some of the nation’s children are going without healthy meals in the summer. Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again.

When I received an email from US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding the President and first Lady’s summer of service initiative, United We Serve, I thought, “Oh no, now what?” As I read about the goals of the program, I wasn’t sure if I would have either the time or the energy to do anything. But, as I thought about how lucky I am at this time to have a job, a roof over my head and a reliable vehicle, it seemed very little to ask me to give up one afternoon. Little did I know how much value I would find in giving up one afternoon of my time.

Earlier this week, Secretary Vilsack rolled up his sleeves as part of the Obama administration's United We Serve summer service initiative by visiting the St. Agatha Family Empowerment Center in Chicago. Excited youngsters left a nearby playground and lined up as Secretary Vilsack helped serve lunches at the Center as part of the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program.

On Monday, June 22, 2009, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, read to children at the Morgan Day Care Center in Silver Spring, MD. The visit was part of President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative program which is designed make volunteerism and community service part of the daily lives of all Americans and help build a new foundation of service, one community at a time.