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June 7, 2016

Dear Colleague:



We are writing to you as educators on the front lines ensuring  that America’s children grow up and become our Nation’s future leaders.   No one knows better than you that children must have the proper tools to  succeed, including proper and consistent nutrition to grow up healthy so they  can learn and reach their full potential.  During the school year, with  your help, millions of children from low-income families can count on getting  healthy meals at school.  However, we want to make certain that essential  nutritional support remains available during the summer months, and we are  asking for your leadership again this year to make sure that children do not go  hungry in your community this summer.

Each  day, more than 22 million children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and  lunch through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Lunch  Program.  But, when school is out, many children who rely on these meals  go hungry.  USDA’s Summer Meal Programs help children get the nutritious  meals they need even when school is not in session.  Unfortunately, these  Summer Meal Programs currently reach fewer than four million children  nationally.

We  need your assistance so that every family whose  children need meals this summer knows how to find a summer meal site in their  community.  Here are some ways you can help:

1.   **Provide summer meals to children at your schools this summer.**   Local schools make great summer meal sites.  Children and parents are  familiar and comfortable with local schools providing nutritious food in a safe  environment.  Schools in low-income areas can be summer meal sites and  fill an important meal gap for students, even if summer school is not offered  at the school.  For a comprehensive outreach toolkit, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-meals-toolkit-summer-meal-sites. 
  2.   **Ask principals, teachers, and staff in your schools to share information  about nearby summer meal sites.**Schools communicate regularly and  effectively with their students’ families.  Please encourage principals,  teachers, and staff to connect their school families with summer meal locations  by visiting http://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks or by calling 1-866-348-6479 or 
  1-877-842-6273.  
  3.   **Champion the USDA Summer Meal Programs in your community.**As a recognized leader, please share  with other community leaders the importance of USDA’s Summer Meal Programs to  ensure children have the resources they need to succeed.  Encourage local  organizations to become summer meal sponsors or sites.  Distribute flyers,  postcards, and bookmarks about USDA’s Summer Meal Programs and promote summer  meals on your schools’ Web sites and in your schools’ e-mails.  Digital  and printable summer meals materials can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/raise-awareness.

To learn more about the USDA Summer Meal Programs, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program.  In addition, the Food and Nutrition Service Regional Office staff are  available to provide technical assistance and answer any questions you may have  on USDA Summer Meal Programs.  Find contact information for your Region at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices.

Thank you, as always, for your dedication and commitment to our  children.  By working together, we can ensure our children have the food  and nutrition they need to grow and succeed.

Sincerely,



/s/
      /s/John B. King, Jr.
      Thomas  J. VilsackSecretary of Education
      Secretary of Agriculture