DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Resolution for Summer Food Service Program
SUMMARY:
A Resolution in support of the 2014 Texas Department of Agriculture's summer food service program. The City of San Antonio along with other city-wide non-profit organizations are recipients of a grant that provides a nutritious meal to children 18 years and younger at no cost. The summer food service program is aimed at meeting the summertime meal needs of our local children.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Texas Department of Agriculture provides funding for summer food service programs. The goal is to offer healthy meals at no cost to children age eighteen and below in the community during the summer months.
Mayor Julián Castro and the City Council have championed and promoted the community benefit provided by these programs in the fight against child hunger and increasing awareness about the availability of these services at numerous locations throughout the community. The program provides an important benefit to children who depend on meals served during the school year but may not have the same opportunity for a well-balanced meal during the summer months. This grant will enable the City, San Antonio Food Bank, and San Antonio Youth to service over 27,019 children, with maximum capacity to serve approximately 218,010 breakfasts, 788,045 lunches and 408,220 snacks at over 218 sites.
ISSUE:
A Resolution supporting the 2014 Texas Department of Agriculture's funding of summer food service programs.
ALTERNATIVES:
An alternative would be to continue to offer summer food service programs without full participation in the Texas Department of Agriculture's statewide campaign to increase community awareness about the availability of the federally funded program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this resolution.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Resolution to increase awareness of the summer food service programs that offer healthy meals to children age 18 and below at various sites in the community.