MEDIA ADVISORY FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Summer Lunch Program Kicks-off with Free BBQ Event

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tara McNamara

                   O: 619-725-7111

                   M: 209-233-1565

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PROVIDES FREE MEALS TO CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER

Summer Lunch Program Kicks-off with Free BBQ Event

WHAT: Students may be out of school for the summer, but hunger does not take a vacation. San Diego Unified once again prepares to kick-off its summer lunch program that provides healthy meals to kids 18 years and younger for free with the annual Summer Fun Café Kickoff BBQ. Along with the free BBQ lunch for all children and accompanying adults, the kickoff will feature a wide variety of family-friendly activities, a community resource fair, and fresh fruits and vegetables for families to take home.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 29, 2016

                10:30 a.m-2 p.m.

WHERE: Skyline Hills Community Park

                8285 Skyline Drive SD (92114)

              Media parking available in main lot off of Skyline Drive

EVENT SCHEDULE:

10:30 a.m. – Event begins: Resource Fair with 35 booths, a jump house and activity decathlon.

11:30 a.m.-noon –  Superintendent Cindy Marten,  Board of Education President Dr. Michael McQuary, USDA Special Nutrition Programs Director Ronna Bach, San Diego Unified Food and Nutrition Services Director Gary Petill and San Diego Park and Recreation Director Herman Parker will serve food to the children. (All are available for interviews at noon, immediately after serving food).

1 p.m. – Honda Dealers of San Diego present check to San Diego Unified Food and Nutrition Services.

Free drawing for children: bicycles, Padres gift bags, iPad Minis, digital cameras, a Nintendo and more.

VISUALS:  Children receiving free lunch, notable figures serving children, San Diego Unified receiving check from Honda Dealers, children interacting during activities, parents receiving fruits and vegetables to take home.

NOTABLE ATTENDEES/INTERVIEWS: Superintendent Cindy Marten, Board of Education President Dr. Michael McQuary, USDA Special Nutrition Programs Director Ronna Bach, Food and Nutrition Services Director Gary Petill, San Diego Park and Recreation Director Herman Parker, Summer Meal Program Coordinator Torin Childress.

BACKGROUND: The Summer Fun Café free lunch program, which has been in place since 2003 and serves nearly 250,000 meals and snacks during the summer, is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Seamless Summer Feeding Option and requires no paperwork to participate.  Meals are served from June27-August 19 at 61 sites: 28 park and recreation centers, 16 community and military sites, and 17 schools.  (A complete schedule and locations are listed below.) 

More than 2,000 children and their parents/guardians are expected to attend the kickoff event. Along with the free BBQ lunch for all children and accompanying adults, the kickoff will feature a wide variety of family-friendly activities: visits from the San Diego Padres Friar and Pad Squad, and The San Diego Gulls mascot, Gulliver; an activity decathlon with lots of prizes; an inflatable jumper; music;  prize drawings (for kids only); and a community resource fair. Each family will go home with a bag of fresh fruit and vegetables from the San Diego Food Bank or Feeding America San Diego. The San Diego Honda Dealers are underwriting the cost of the adult meals at the kickoff event, and Mission Federal Credit Union and General Mills are sponsoring parent participation in other BBQ events throughout the summer. 

For a complete schedule of Summer Fun Café lunch programs, visit www.sandiegounified.org/summerfuncafe  .

CONTACT: Tara McNamara| tmcnamara@sandi.net  |O: 619-725-7111|M: 209-233-1565

 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov  USDA is an equal opportunity provider.