CONTACT: Emily Kumlien
Date: June 4, 2018
(608) 265-8199
(608) 516-9154
ekumlien@uwhealth.org
MADISON, Wis. – UW Health will expand hours and add Union Corners Clinic for year two of their Summer Food Service Program that provides free summer meals to children 18 and under.
UW Health is only Madison area healthcare organization offering free summer meals.
In the first year last summer, UW Health served more than 2,000 free meals – an average of 27 meals each day — over 75 days at UW Hospital and American Family Children’s Hospital. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The new, extended hours at the original locations include free meals from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week at the UW Hospital cafeteria. American Family Children’s Hospital Farmer’s Market Café on the first floor will be open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Also new this year on Fridays is a food truck to be set up from 12-2 p.m. at the Union Corners Clinic parking lot, 2402 Winnebago Street, offering free boxed meals. There is no income requirement or registration; the truck is open to anyone in the community. Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability. The program starts June 11 and runs through August 31. The first Friday at Union Corners Clinic will be June 15.
“This program fills a void created when school lunches are not available. For some kids, no school can mean no lunch. Helping parents meet the nutritional needs of their child is the strength of this program,” said Cassie Vanderwall, UW Health clinical nutritionist and dietetic internship program manager. “We are excited for year two and to build off last year. We think expanding the hours and adding Union Corners will increase awareness and help serve a need in our community.”
One in six children in Dane County has food insecurity, according to the national hunger-relief organization Feeding America.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food security as having access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Families may be considered food-insecure if they have anxiety about having enough food in the house, have to buy food of low quality or have to eat less or less often.
The meals, made fresh daily, meet the Child and Adult Care Food Program standards and will include a whole grain, dairy, lean protein, fruit and vegetable.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under.
Non-discrimination Statement: 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.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.