Services, Family, Children, Recreation, Kid's Cafe Program (Youth) available at Food Bank of Northern Nevada, The

What is Kids Cafe?
Kids Cafe is a collaborative local feeding program which provides free meals to children living in low-income neighborhoods in the Reno/Sparks area. The primary partners in Kids Cafe are The Food Bank of Northern Nevada, the Washoe County School District Nutrition Services, and local sponsors of programs for children.

Kids Cafe and Summer Food Program - Summer's not fun for hungry kids

Swimming, skateboarding, biking, playing on monkey bars - all are summer activities of active, healthy kids. But summer isn't fun for hungry children. Low-income youth who depend on free lunch and breakfast at school can be at risk of hunger during the summer break when school meals are not available to them. Families whose children regularly eat free breakfast and lunch at school often experience a real financial struggle to provide meals for those children when school is out for the summer.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada joins forces with several community partners to provide free, nutritious meals for children ages 1-18 years, through the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). A variety of meals is available to children in 29 neighborhoods in the Reno-Sparks-North Valleys areas. Sites are carefully planned to provide walking-distance access for many children.

The Food Bank observed National Hunger Awareness Day on June 6 by treating Sierra Vista Elementary students on their last day of school to ice cream (donated by Model Dairy) and balloons and reminding them about the summer meal program availability.

Monetary donations may be mailed to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, 994 Packer Way, Sparks NV 89431.

Schools interested in participating as distribution sites or collection sites may call Sue Eckes at the Food Bank, 331-3663, for information and availability as the program expands. Businesses and organizations may make monetary donations or act as collection sites.

America's Second Harvest, the national network of 200 food banks and food organizations, of which the Food Bank of Northern Nevada is the region's only certified affiliate, is piloting a National Backpack Program. Attached is a printout from the www.secondharvest.org Web site about the program, including a list of 24 food banks that are participating.

Where are the Kids Cafe sites?
During the traditional school year, 25 Kids Cafe sites throughout Washoe County serve dinners to children ages 1 to 18. Twenty-one of these sites are schools where more than half the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price school lunch and breakfast. The other sites are in free after-school programs in low-income neighborhoods.

What are the children fed?
Prepackaged meals are purchased from the school district at cost and delivered to all Kids Cafe sites by the school district's nutrition services. Cooks employed by the programs prepare the meals, which are served under supervision of program staff at each site. Each meal provides 2 ounces of meat or meat alternative, 2 fruits and/or vegetables, 1-2 bread or grain servings, and milk to drink.

How many children participate in Kids Cafe?
More than 1,400 Kids Cafe meals are served daily to children at school year sites and summer sites. "Walk-in" children from the neighborhoods are welcomed and fed. Participation varies from day to day, but cooks always have extra meals on hand for any child who wishes to eat at Kids Cafe.

How is Kids Cafe funded?
Many Kids Cafe meals are reimbursed by USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The remaining meals and staffing are provided through funding from corporate donations, from local foundations, and by donations from individuals in our community who are concerned about the health of local children.

The Food Bank provides funding for the program manager, and for non-reimbursed meals, as well as fiscal and administrative program management.

The Washoe County School District Nutrition Services provides meals at a reasonable cost, delivery to each site, and use of foodservice equipment and facilities for the meal service.

The local after-school and summer educational programs for children, latchkey programs, and other programs provide foodservice staff, supervisory staff, and recordkeeping support.

The Nevada Department of Education provides federal funding from USDA for many of the meals, and conducts periodic reviews to ensure accountability and equal treatment of participants.

The Washoe County District Health Department inspects sites for food safety purposes, issues permits to operate, provides assistance in training, and requires frequent self-inspections for compliance with food safety regulations.

Food Bank's Kids Café Program Chosen As State Model

Why Kids Cafe is important

Through Kids Cafe, many low-income children have access to a nutritious meal which might not otherwise be available to them. In conjunction with school meal programs, the Kids Cafe dinner meal provides a source of balanced nutrients needed for growth and good health. When school is out, children who eat free meals at school can receive a free nutritious meal through Kids Cafe as part of the Summer Food Service Program. Well-fed children are healthier children, and they are better prepared for effective learning and school success.

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