PARSONS, KANSAS - The Summer Food Service program has provided nutritious meals for local children for the past 15 years. The program was part of the “Promoting Healthy Kids: Serving Kansas Communities Case Study” program, supported in part by the Kansas Health Foundation.
This year, Labette Health and the Rector Diabetes Education & Resource Center will be teaming up to sponsor the program. The program is funded largely in part by the USDA meal reimbursement program for summer food services, from Blue CHIP award grant funds and from a grant received by the Kansas Health Foundation.
“Approximately 75%, or 2,550 children in Parsons are eligible for free or reduced lunches. The importance of adequate nutrition cannot be overstated. It affects all aspects of a child’s life and development,” states Shellie Collins, RN, Rector Center Coordinator.
Labette Health and the Rector Diabetes Center monitor the target population health on a regular basis including; obesity rates, free and reduced lunch access and food insecurity statistics (measured by those children considered being hungry or at-risk of hunger). Families who receive food assistance programming do not receive funding during the 12 week summer break. The Summer Food Service program addresses this need through serving breakfast and lunch at four locations in the Parsons community. In addition, the program will provide weekly lessons through the OrganWise Guys curriculum, teaching children healthy habits and the importance of nutrition in a fun and engaging manner. The program will also offer “fun incentives” to encourage meal program participation, including passes to the Parsons pool.
Labette Health anticipates serving approximately 40 meals per day at four different sites, for the 43 day summer break. The target population is children between the age’s one and 18.
For more information, contact Shellie Collins at (620) 820-5230.