Help FDACS Prevent Childhood Hunger This Summer ......................

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking partners across the state to help provide meals at no cost to children from low-income families through the Summer BreakSpot Program. This past summer, more than 13.7 million meals were served to children in Florida at more than 4,400 Summer BreakSpot sites.

“Over 850,000 children across Florida struggle with chronic hunger, and for many of them, school meals are the only daily meals they can rely on,” stated Commissioner Nikki Fried. “The Summer BreakSpot program helps provide fresh, nutritious meals to children during the summer months – bridging the gap to ensure that even when school is out, kids can still access healthy meals. We’re grateful to our participating schools and organizations, and the USDA for their partnership in feeding Florida’s future.”

The Department is looking to increase partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, schools, residential summer camps, and faith-based organizations as they are well-positioned to reach unserved children throughout the state.

Through the Summer BreakSpot Program, organizations can provide nutritious, no-cost meals to children in low-income areas through a variety of programs, such as summer day camps and enrichment programs. Qualified organizations will be reimbursed for program operating and administrative expenses based on the number of eligible meals served. To be eligible, organizations 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 children enrolled at camps
Show financial and administrative capability to operate the program

Registration is now open for sponsors for the 2020 Summer BreakSpot Program. The application deadlines for Summer 2020 are to ensure all sponsors are approved and ready to operate in a timely manner. The timeline will also allow for sponsors requesting an advance to receive funds with ample time to make purchases prior to the start of their program. For more information on the program, visit SummerBreakSpot.org.

Sponsors Requesting a June Advance:

Must submit a complete application by Feb. 15, 2020 and be approved by March 14 with completed annual training.

Sponsors Requesting a July Advance:

Must submit a complete application by March 15, 2020 and be approved by April 14 with completed annual training.

All Sponsors Not Requesting an Advance:

Must submit a complete application by April 15, 2020 and be approved by May 14 with completed annual training.

For more information on the Summer BreakSpot Program annual training, visit FDACS.gov/Food-Nutrition/Nutrition-Programs/Summer-Food-Service- Program/Summer-BreakSpot-Sponsors/Sponsor-Training.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Summer BreakSpot Program is administered at the state level by the FDACS, and it is run in local communities by schools and qualified public and private non- profit organizations.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form[ ], (AD-3027) found online here or at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: