Organizations Needed To Sponsor Program

The Idaho Department of Education is looking for organizations that will sponsor the Summer Food Program, which provides nutritious meals to needy children.

The organizations - camps, schools, parks departments, local governments and the like - get federal money to buy food and administer the program.

Last year, Idaho’s 35 sponsors fed children at 88 sites, said Barry White, child nutrition programs specialist. That compares to 63,000 low-income children who are fed through the School Lunch Program offered at most Idaho school districts.

“Only 10 percent of eligible children are receiving Summer Food Service meals,” said White. “In fact, we believe one out of every six children in Idaho goes without meals sometime during each month, but especially during the summer.”

More information is available from White at the State Department of Education, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0027. His phone is (208) 332-6821.

Program agreements must be filed with the department by May 1.

, DataTimes