San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Torrey Smith, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe visit Summer Meals Site

First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe visits Summer Meals Site with Virginia Native and San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Torrey Smith

ALEXANDRIA – First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and Virginia native, Torrey Smith, visited Hollin Meadows Elementary School in Alexandria on Tuesday, July 14 to promote the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and recognize the critical role that schools play in providing children with nutritious meals over the summer.

The SFSP is a federally funded program, which makes free meals available to youth age 18 and under in eligible areas statewide. Fairfax County Schools sponsors the SFSP at Hollin Meadows and 51 other school sites where any child age 18 or under can receive breakfast and lunch during open dates in the summer.

When schools across the country close for the summer, school meals also come to an end. For the 1 in 6 Virginia kids who struggle with hunger, that means summer vacation can be a time of uncertainty and anxiety about meals. It is also tough on families who see their tight budgets further strained in the summer months.

The federal summer meals program helps low-income children get the healthy food they need when school is out. These healthy meals are available to kids and teens across the country, but only a fraction of those in need have access. Barriers like extreme weather, transportation challenges and excessive red tape block most kids from getting the meals they need. On average, only 13 percent of Virginia children who receive a free or reduced-price lunch during the school year are participating in the summer meals program each day.

Childhood hunger in Virginia is a solvable problem. Through a public-private partnership, the First Lady’s office works with the No Kid Hungry campaign to find the most efficient and effective ways to connect more kids with the healthy food they need every day.

Contact: Lincoln Saunders
Phone: (804) 692-2565
Email: Lincoln.Saunders@governor.virginia.gov