|
|
||
|
Home About Us Get Involved 601.353.7286 PO Box 411 Jackson MS 39205 Get Directions(view the interactive map) 
|
Child Feeding
Programs Activity 2011- 2012
BACKPACK PROGRAM The BackPack Program is designed
to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not
available, such as weekends and school vacations. Backpacks are filled
with food that children take home and discreetly distributed on the last day
before the weekend or holiday vacation. Mississippi Food Network provides
backpack meals to
11 participating sites that distributes backpacks filled with food
items weekly to 571 children in Hinds,
Warren, Forrest, Lamar, Rankin and Oktibbeha Counties.
AFTERSCHOOL �AT RISK� SNACK PROGRAM Mississippi Food Network
participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), in order to
provide healthy snacks to children in afterschool programs in underserved
communities. The program is
administered by the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Child
Nutrition.
MFN provides snacks to approximately 760
children 5 days a week during the school year through seven Boys & Girls Clubs
and four private non-profit organizations providing after-school programs
that offer tutoring, homework help and enrichment activities to underprivileged
children in their communities.
SUMMER FOOD
SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) Mississippi Food Network began the Summer Food Service Program in 2008 with one site serving 100+ children breakfast and lunch for eight weeks. The program expanded in 2011 to six sites in four counties, Warren, Washington, Simpson and Forrest that served 16,268 meals to 466 children during the summer long program. Plans for 2012 are to expand to 8 sites in the current counties as well as Bolivar and Noxubee Counties. Enrichment activities, which included nutrition education, were provided at the sites in an effort to increase participation.
Mississippi Food Network also
offers nutrition education to children participating in the programs and
Senior citizens participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
(CSFP). Using the Organ Wise curriculum for children, interns from the
University of Southern Mississippi Dietetic Intern Program and MFN's Registered
Dietician, programs and food demonstrations are
provided in order to teach people about healthy food choices, healthy snacks and
exercise. In 2011 nutrition education was also provided to agencies participating in
MFN's Community Garden Project (funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of MS
Foundation). Topics included recipes
and ideas on preparing fresh produce, cooking demonstrations and canning
classes. |
|
