Grants help QC area school provide summer meals
The Iowa Department of Education has awarded almost $900,000 in competitive grants to 38 school districts and other qualified organizations so more Iowa children and teens have access to nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months. The grant awards will support 61 new summer meal sites in areas not previously served through expanding participation in two existing state-administered, federally funded summer child nutrition programs.
“Through partnerships with schools and community-based providers, the Summer Meal Expansion Grant builds upon family-focused solutions to support child nutrition and well-being in the summer,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “We commend the awardees for their leadership in growing the reach and impact of these programs, providing children with no-cost, healthy meal options in enriching environments this summer and beyond.”
The Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Iowa Department of Education. Meal sites are operated by school districts and local organizations in communities throughout Iowa. These sites offer nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months. Summer sites offer meals for all children and teens ages 18 and under at no cost to families.
Bettendorf Middle School is receiving funding, as are the Lincoln Resource Center, Central High School and McKinley Elementary School in the Davenport School District.
“These two summer meal programs were created to help ensure children in low-income areas who rely on school meals during the school year don’t go hungry during the summer months,” said Kala Shipley, bureau chief for nutrition and health services at the Iowa Department of Education. “Last summer, more than 1.6 million meals and snacks were served to children through the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option site sponsors, and we are excited to support more children with meal sites in previously underserved areas.”
Grant amounts were determined based on alignment with grant objectives, whether the sponsor was new or existing, the number of proposed new sites and the needs of the children served. Funds can be used for local food purchases, program outreach and other operational expenses that aren’t covered by federal program reimbursement. Grant funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis after site location operating budgets are finalized.
Funding for the Summer Meal Expansion Grant comes from state and local fiscal recovery Funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Click here for more information on the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
