Posted on by Deborah

Feeding Your Community: Summer Meals at Libraries in 2020

6/4/20 Update–Recording of webinar:

If you weren’t able to attend last week’s Feeding Your Community: Summer Meals at Libraries webinar co-produced by the Collaborative Summer Library Program and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the recording is available here: youtu.be/Q6Ig_zo1tj4<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/Q6Ig_zo1tj4__;!!Oai6dtTQULp8Sw!EiKfPgLzXruc37EWI05BCI69E25mq_QyEqP_q02DgEtXmGD4PesdXahW5j7EY5rb9jytci0J$>

It is not too late to become a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site for 2020. The USDA has extended temporary waivers that permit SFSP sites to provide grab-and-go meals/snacks and allow parents to pick meals up for their children. Other waivers are also in place to facilitate food distribution under social distancing guidelines. The need will be exceptionally great this year, and some previous SFSP sites may be unavailable for various reasons related to the public health emergency.

If your library is already an SFSP site, work with your current sponsor. If you want to become an SFSP site: contact your local school district, an SFSP sponsor in your area, or your state’s SFSP administering agency<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fns.usda.gov/contacts?f*5B0*5D=program*3A28__;JSUl!!Oai6dtTQULp8Sw!EiKfPgLzXruc37EWI05BCI69E25mq_QyEqP_q02DgEtXmGD4PesdXahW5j7EY5rb9gcwUrUQ$>.

The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) offers Libraries and Summer Food, a thorough, clear how-to guide for libraries: www.cslpreads.org/libraries-and-summer-food/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.cslpreads.org/libraries-and-summer-food/__;!!Oai6dtTQULp8Sw!EiKfPgLzXruc37EWI05BCI69E25mq_QyEqP_q02DgEtXmGD4PesdXahW5j7EY5rb9nPbljfo$>

(please note this guide assumes ordinary circumstances and has not been revised for the current public health emergency).

Feeding Your Community: Summer Meals at Libraries in 2020

https://usda-fns.webex.com/usda-fns/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec550bb0e7098abb855f188ebdd635060

Thursday, May 28, 1:00 ET / Noon CT / 11:00 MT / 10:00 PT

Many libraries around the USA participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a USDA-funded program that provides free meals and snacks to children ages 0-18 in communities with high levels of need. Libraries and SFSP are a great fit! Libraries are free and open to all. Libraries are accessible. Children and teens are always welcome. The library is a stigma-free community center where community members traditionally get things for free. Libraries also gain a lot from participating as SFSP sites. They directly support vulnerable community members and directly address food insecurity. They attract new user groups and increase their visibility and importance as a stakeholder in community well-being.

Summer meals will look quite different this year as USDA has made temporary changes so that meals may be taken home, and parents or guardians may pick up meals for their children if the state allows.

Join Penny Weaver and Maged Hanafi from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service to learn the basics of SFSP, what will be different in 2020, and how your library can support child and community well-being by being a new or returning SFSP site, or by supporting other SFSP sites in your community.

Speakers:

  • Penny Weaver, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  • Maged Hanafi, Team Lead, Community Nutrition, Midwest, USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  • Luke Kralik, Organizational Coordinator, Collaborative Summer Library Program

Register for the May 28 webinar here:

https://usda-fns.webex.com/usda-fns/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec550bb0e7098abb855f188ebdd635060 and click on the “Register” link

Resources:

  • The SFSP is a federally-funded, state-administered program. The SFSP reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session. Check out our video to learn more: https://youtu.be/U_93W0U3E8U
  • Since the outset of the coronavirus outbreak, USDA has provided states with broad flexibilities to ensure the continuation of meal service during COVID-19 related school closures. USDA is committed to using all the options available to us to help people get the food they need.  To learn more about the USDA Food and Nutrition service and our response to COVID-19, visit www.fns.usda.gov/coronavirus and follow us on Twitter at @USDANutrition.

Register for the May 28 webinar here:

https://usda-fns.webex.com/usda-fns/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec550bb0e7098abb855f188ebdd635060 and click on the “Register” link