Agriculture and Education Secretaries, Virginia Leadership Kick off Summer Meals Programs

PETERSBURG, June 7, 2016 – TODAY, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Education Secretary John King, and Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe will visit a Petersburg elementary school participating in USDA’s Summer Food Service Program to kick off the start of the summer meals season. They will also be joined by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, and Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton. While there Vilsack, King, McAuliffe, Scott, and Holton will create summer meal flyers with young students, serve breakfast, and hold a press availability to raise awareness of the importance and availability of nutritious summer meals for children and teens.

The Summer Food Service Program ensures that low-income children continue to receive access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. Each year, millions of meals are served to children and teens at over 50,000 sites through the duration of the summer. With many kids relying on over half of their calories from school meals, hunger doesn’t end when school’s out.