[Michlib-l] Meet Up & Eat Up

[Lancaster, Cathy (MDE)]

Hi Lori, et. Al.,
Here's an update I shared with youth services folks just last week that has great guidance on being a library offering summer food:

CSLP's Libraries and Summer Food Guide has been updated<https://www.cslpreads.org/libraries-and-summer-food/>
Hungry kids don't read. They can't concentrate; their physical, social, and emotional well-being suffers; and they don't participate successfully in library activities. Every summer, 21.4 million US children who receive free or reduced-price school meals1,including 13.8 million who live in food-insecure households2, lose access to the daily breakfast and lunch served in school. During the summer, many students also lack the other benefits of school, including engagement, learning, adults present, a temperature-controlled environment - things libraries can provide.
The USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as SUN Meals, makes free healthy meals and snacks available to young people in communities with high rates of poverty. Many public libraries already participate as meal or snack sites or provide programming to nearby feeding sites. Libraries can incorporate their summer library program and other fun, literacy-based activities to support child well-being and send children and teens back to school ready to learn. Learn more about how to help with summer food go to https://www.cslpreads.org/libraries-and-summer-food/.
You can also learn more about becoming a site right here in Michigan from MDE's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/food/summer.
Also, attached you'll find a longer email with information on SFSP (now branded as SUN Meals) that I sent out on March 3rd.

I do hope you consider becoming a site!
Cathy Lancaster
Youth Services Coordinator
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
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Subject: [Michlib-l] Meet Up & Eat Up

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I am considering including the Summer Food Service Program, also known as, Meet Up & Eat Up, as part of our summer reading program.  I am wondering if any other libraries have done this.  How did it work you for you? Can you share your experience with me?

Lori Haas
Director
Montmorency County Public Libraries
P.O. Box 438
Atlanta, MI 49709
(989)785-3941

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