MEDIA ADVISORY --Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Visit California and Discuss Efforts to Reduce Childhood Hunger in Summer

Reporters and editors: Here's a media advisory from the USDA regarding the scheduled visit of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to a joint San Diego Unified School District/City of San Diego Spring Fun Café location at Colina Del Sol Park tomorrow, Thursday, April 18. Sec. Vilsack is scheduled to have lunch with neighborhood kids during the 12:30-1 p.m. lunchtime, followed by a news conference at 1 p.m. Hope you can join us.

Jack Brandais • Communications Department • San Diego Unified School District • (619) 725-5570 (desk) • (619) 607-0477 (cell)

United States Department of Agriculture -- Office of Communications

Media Advisory: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Visit California and Discuss Efforts to Reduce Childhood Hunger in Summer

USDA Office of Communications sent this bulletin at 04/17/2013 07:00 PM EDT

Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Visit California and Discuss Efforts to Reduce Childhood Hunger in Summer

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 – TOMORROW, Secretary Vilsack will discuss efforts to reduce childhood hunger in summer months with community feeding program partners in San Diego, Calif.

Last week, Secretary Vilsack called on communities across the country to partner with USDA's Summer Food Service Program to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is out. He also announced an effort by the USDA to provide increased technical assistance to five states with the highest levels of rural or urban food insecurity or historically low program participation rates. Target states include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

USDA's Summer Food Service Program operates through partnerships between USDA, state agencies and local organizations. Local sponsors, such as schools, local government agencies, faith-based and nonprofit community organizations, and residential and non-residential camps provide free meals and activities to eligible low-income children during the summer months. In 2012, USDA's partners served 144 million summer meals at 38,800 sites, feeding approximately 2.3 million children on a typical summer day.

Thursday, April 17, 2013
12:30 p.m. PDT

WHAT: B-roll opportunity: Secretary Vilsack will have lunch with local officials, parents and children in USDA's Summer Food Service Program.

WHERE: Colina Del Sol Recreation Center 5319 Orange Avenue, San Diego, Calif. 92115 1 p.m. PDT

WHAT: Secretary Vilsack will host a press availability following a roundtable with community feeding program partners and local officials.

WHERE: Colina Del Sol Recreation Center, 5319 Orange Avenue, San Diego, Calif. 92115

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