Summer Food Program in Puerto Rico:
Let's Help Eliminate Hunger Among Children

There is still time to call and join the effort to end childhood hunger. Representatives from some of the 60 organizations attending the Summer Meals Forum.

During the summer months-a critical period when children might not eat the meals usually served during the school year- the Summer Food Program from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides balanced, nutritional food. Their goal is to put an end to childhood hunger and ensure the wellbeing of families around the nation.

The HUD San Juan Field Office is committed to helping Puerto Rican families improve their quality of life. In partnership with housing stakeholders, USDA-FNS and the Puerto Rico Department of Education, the goal is to increase meals served in HUD subsidized housing and other locations that serve low income children.

Just last year the Summer Food Program served over 4.4 million meals to children in Puerto Rico, a 4.2% increase from the previous year! The program also served meals in 220 HUD subsidized public housing projects.

This year, with the goal of ending hunger among children, HUD joined the 2015 Summer Meals Forum held in March, to encourage over 60 local nonprofit and faith-based organizations, housing agencies, and other entities to join the effort. Panelists shared media outreach techniques, eco-friendly programs that could be integrated to increase participation in summer camps and events, recreational collaboration opportunities with the Puerto Rico Department of Recreation and Sports, and success stories from previous program sponsors.

There is still time to join, click here (www.de.gobierno.pr/padres-y-estudiantes/141-nutricion-escolar/261-programa-de-servicios-de-alimentos-de-verano-psav) to learn how and help keep the children healthy.

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