Operation Food Search is involved with a nationwide campaign called No Kid Hungry sponsored by Share Our Strength. The overall goal of the campaign is to eliminate childhood hunger in America by 2015.
School Breakfast
Many schools have implemented a school breakfast program. This meal is vitally important to young bodies and young minds. Studies have shown a link between children who eat breakfast and improved academic performance. Also, there are fewer trips to the nurse’s office and fewer disciplinary problems when a child is well-fed. All-in-all a great investment.
In areas where at least 50 percent of students’ families are at or below 130 percent of the poverty level, then all of the children at the school are eligible for free meals. These are neighborhoods where economic opportunities are few and far between. In other school districts, a student may be individually eligible even if the community at large does not have significant numbers of families living in poverty.
Breakfast at school not only helps ensure proper health for the young students, but it provides a positive economic impact for the community as parents can spend more of their money on other needs. In these trying times every little bit can make a difference between make or break for a family that is trying to make ends meet.
If you have a school-age child, ask your school if they provide school breakfast. If they do, you may need to get your child to school early enough to participate in the program. Many schools are moving to breakfast in the classroom.
If your child’s school does not provide school breakfast, then let us know and we can work with the school district and school administration to try to help them implement such a program. Call Gary at (314) 726-5355 ext 15 or at gary.wells@operationfoodsearch.org if you have any questions.
Afterschool meals
There are dozens of sites in the St. Louis area where at-risk kids can be engaged in enrichment programs while receiving healthy snacks or meals. Enrichment programs may include tutoring, mentoring, cultural exposure, music, dance, art, life skills and sports. (Sites that provide sports must allow all children to participate.) This is extremely beneficial for working parents who can’t afford to pick their children up until they get off of work.
Children are eligible for the program by area eligibility or individual eligibility. If the program is not located in a low-income area, reimbursement is based on the household income of the children. If a child is eligible for free meals during the school day, he or she is also eligible for free snacks afterschool.
The At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program – part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) program – reimburses sponsoring organizations with certain afterschool enrichment activities for snacks or meals served to participating kids. The snacks and meals can be served any time after the regular school day ends (i.e., after the last bell at 3:00 pm).
If you are looking for an afterschool program in the St. Louis area, click on this link or visit the After School for All Partnership at http://stlasap.org/ . You can also call Youth and Family Services at (314)- 657-1695 to find an afterschool program near you. If you would like to start an Afterschool Program, please call Gary at (314) 726-5355 ext 15, or e-mail him at gary.wells@operationfoodsearch.org.
Child Care Centers
For parents with small children who are not yet school age, it can be a real challenge to find adequate care for the children if the parent is working full time or going to school to get a degree. Luckily, there are resources available.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursement from the USDA for meals and nutrition education programs for licensed child care centers and family-based programs to children enrolled through the age of 12. All nonprofit child care centers are eligible and for profit centers must receive childcare subsidy (title XX) for at least 25 percent of enrolled children or licensed capacity (whichever is less), or at least 25 percent of the children in care must be eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Meals and snacks must meet USDA nutrition requirements.
If you are looking for a Child Care Center in the St. Louis area, click on this link or visit the Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) at http://www.stlarchs.org/about.html . You can also call Youth and Family Services at (314)- 657-1695 to find a Child Care Center near you.
