We understand this year has brought a lot of challenges. We're here to support your meal program operations to ensure that all students can participate. Please take a few minutes to complete our inquiry form and let us know how we can offer you support.  

South Carolina Department of Education Seeks Partners for Summer Food Service Program

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is seeking neighborhood partners to assist in the implementation of the Summer Food Service Program to supply meals to children during the summer months. The program is funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the SCDE's Office of Health and Nutrition. From January 1, 2021 through August, the program's Summer Break Cafe served approximately 20.5 million meals.

New Resource: Increasing Participation Through Alternative Meal Service Models
Alternative meal service models, such as Grab n’ Go and meals in the classroom, can provide more flexibility for students, leading to increased meal participation. These alternative service models use portable equipment that enable schools to serve food with the same high-quality meal standards and variety as traditional cafeteria dining. Additionally, alternative meal service models can be utilized anytime to ensure students are able to access meals conveniently and efficiently during the school day. 

Blog Post: New survey reveals that the majority of immigrant families still face confusion and fear in the wake of the "public charge rule".  According to a new survey from the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) coalition - funded by No Kid Hungry – three out of four immigrant families were unaware the harsh public charge rule changes from the prior administration were repealed earlier this year. The findings confirm that confusion and fear kept many eligible immigrant families from accessing programs that help feed, house and keep their children healthy— a phenomenon known as the public charge “chilling effect.” When asked about trying to get assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half (46%) of families who needed assistance did not apply for it due to concerns over immigration status. Three out of 4 immigrant families were unaware that the harmful public charge rule had been reversed this past March and 50% said that knowledge about the reversal of the rule made them more likely to use safety net programs when necessary.

As you may know, No Kid Hungry oversees a national texting hotline that helps parents, caregivers, community leaders and others find food assistance (summer meal sites and/or emergency food distribution sites) in their communities. This texting service is making a difference - since the start of the pandemic, more than 235,000 families have texted the site for information on how to locate food assistance in their communities.
 
**The 877-877 texting number will be discontinued. This summer, parents and caregivers should text the word “FOOD” (or “COMIDA”) to 304-304 to find the nearest meal sites. They can also continue to find information online, visiting NoKidHungry.org/Help or NoKidHungry.org/Ayuda.**
 
Only the number will change - everything else will remain the same. To ensure families have access to this resource:

• Please update any materials (posters, flyers, social media images, buttons, banners, signs, postcards and website materials) to promote the texting number with “Text the word FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304.” You are welcome to use these template materials from No Kid Hungry, including social media posts, customizable flyers, template bulletin inserts, and more. 
• Please us know if your organization or school needs any new materials in order to get the word out that the number has changed.  

School boards play a huge role in the lives of children, especially when it comes to getting the food they need to grow up healthy and strong. During the month of January, we're celebrating all they do to help kids thrive. Check out our school board graphics to thank your school board on social media.