2014 Summer Meals - Funding opportunities and great new resources!

TOGETHER. WE CAN FEED MORE KIDS THIS SUMMER. Don't let kids go hungry this summer. Join forces with the Summer Meals Partnership to expand participation in your community. The Summer Meals program is for kids and teens across Washington State.

Get the Facts and Plan Now! Get the latest Summer Meal County Fact Sheet Look at your community's program and start planning for summer 2014. See last year's meal site data, assess service gaps and potential eligible sites for this year. Talk with current sponsors and work with community sponsors to build local summer meals for kids.Get the Fact Sheets How to Qualify First, find eligible locations for meal sites Eligible summer meal sites are in areas where more than half the kids are enrolled in free or reduced-price meals at school. Use the Fact Sheets to find schools that qualify Sites are eligible if more than half an area's residents are low-income according to census data.Use the FRAC Mapper (Internet Explorer only)  OSPI must confirm eligibility. Contact Jennifer Mitchell, OSPI Summer Meal Program Manager360.725.6056.    Become a Summer Meal Site Sponsor Get the required training now! Training Schedule OSPI offers required training in April for organizations wishing to sponsor a summer meal site (training webinars are also available). * Overview of Sponsor Roles and Responsibilities * OSPI Sponsor Memo * Letter of Intent to be a Sponsor (File with OSPI by 3/14/2014) Amber Horan at OSPI can answer questions: 360.725.6202 New Resources for Sponsors Download a comprehensive resource list, including SOS Sponsor Center, USDA training videos, menu ideas, transportation and support for rural communities. Thanks to Sydney Fang, Congressional Hunger Fellow Project. Summer Meals Resource Toolkit Like what you see here? There's more on ParentHelp123.org. Information to strengthen your summer meals program; outreach materials and ideas, too. Grants & Funding Help is available! Get your program running well! Feed Your Brain Grants for Summer Meal and literacy programs in high-poverty rural areas. Applications must be postmarked by 3/28/2014. Food Lifeline Grants to start new Kid's Cafe Summer Meal Sites in Western Washington. Applications due by 4/4/2014. United Way of King County Grants to increase participation or expand access to summer meals in King County. For equipment, activities, incentives, staff and outreach. Apply by 5/15/2014. OSPI Meals for Kids Summer Grants for start-up or expansion of Summer Meal programs that can fund equipment, training and outreach in any Washington community. Applications due by4/4/2014. * MFK Grant Overview * MFK Grant Instructions * MFK Grant Questions Summer Meals Webinars Get FREE training from national experts Register to participate * March 11 - Be a Summer Food Champion * March 13 - Can Elected Officials Help Feed Hungry Kids This Summer? * March 20 - SFSP and CACFP 101 * March 25 - Utilizing Grants & Unique Partnerships to Serve More Summer Food * March 27 - How Can You Solve Your Summer Food Transportation Problems? * April 3 - Finding Ways to Keep Schools Involved in Summer Food * April 9 - Make Your Summer Food Site the Talk of the Town Hunger Action Week Starts March 17 1 in 4 kids in Washington are hungry! Do something! Take the Hunger Quiz and $5 will go to fight hunger. Then volunteer for United Way of King County's Hunger Action Week Day of Serviceon March 22. And if you're really tough, take the Food Stamp Challenge and live on $6.30 a day.

Sue Waldin Partnership Development and Training206.830.7646 WithinReach makes the connections Washington families need to be healthy. Share with your colleagues! STAY CONNECTED