Statistics on students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches indicate there are many more students who could benefit from the Summer Food Service Program. The number of Virginia children who have benefited from the SFSP is small compared to the number of students who benefit from the National School Lunch Program. The priority of the U. S. Department of Agriculture is to reach areas where poor economic conditions exist. If the number of children eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program exceeds 50 percent in one or more of your schools, you are encouraged to consider this program. Free meals are available to all children enrolled in those schools that meet the criteria for the program.
Federal reimbursement is provided for both meals and administrative costs.
The SFSP is administered in Virginia by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Food and Consumer Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. These offices have personnel to provide assistance on this program. Applications should be submitted no later than May 16, 1997. Once again we encourage you to offer this nutrition program in your schools if there is an economic need. A hard copy of this memo and its attachment will be sent to the superintendent's office.