(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Three Kentucky organizations are winners of regional 2003 Summer Sunshine Awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service - Southeast Region for their efforts to provide meals to children during summer months.
The three and their categories are:
* Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Inc. (Bowling Green) -- Program Expansion
Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Inc., is a public non-profit corporation that provides a comprehensive range of human services to residents in the Barren River area, especially those confronting issues of poverty. Community Action maintains more than 40 program facilities in a 10-county area.
The organization's Food Service Program provides nutritious lunches to teens and children during the summer months as an extension of the school lunch program. The program serves low-income, migrant and homeless students throughout the school year.
The Food Service Program has expanded from 18 to 51 sites; provided services to residents of public housing units; and logged more than 4,000 hours of work through its volunteer program.
* Employment Solutions, Inc. (Lexington) -- First Year Sponsor
Employment Solutions helps people with barriers to employment become successfully employed by offering services ranging from vocational skills training to job placement services.
The organization works with the local Catholic Action Center, the Chrysalis House, the Community Action Council, the Salvation Army and Lexington's Faith Community to provide summer food services to the community.
Employment Solutions promoted its "Give An Hour A Week So Kids Can Eat" campaign to solicit volunteer workers for the summer food program and worked with ministerial associations to staff sites and recruit volunteer workers.
* Housing Authority of Maysville -- Target Populations
The Housing Authority of Maysville provides services to eligible low-income residents in Mason and Fleming Counties. The Housing Authority serves more than 24,000 meals at 33 sites through its summer food program, which also earned a 2002 Summer Sunshine Award.
The organization works with civic organizations, local schools and local church groups to provide meals in three rural counties. Through its partnerships, the Housing Authority has obtained meal transportation and publicity at reduced costs.
The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals to children without regard to race, color, national origin, age (within statutory limits), sex or handicap, during extended school vacation periods. In most areas, the program operates from May until September. Meals and snacks are served to children in such places as schools, playgrounds and parks.
Public or private nonprofit schools, units of local, municipal, county or state government, and public or private nonprofit agencies may qualify as sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program. Residential summer camps whose enrollment includes needy children may also act as program sponsors.
Qualified sponsors are reimbursed for program operating and administrative expenses up to the current rates of reimbursement. To be eligible, sponsors must provide continuing service to the community, serve meals on a regular schedule to children or provide meals as a part of an organized program for enrolled children at camps and show they are financially and administratively capable of operating the program.
##
Back to main 2003 News Release/Advisory page