USDA offers churches free food for summer feeding programs

AUSTIN—Congregations looking for assistance in helping hungry children this summer can get it from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In communities where more than 50 percent of children or youth are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs at school, the USDA and Texas Department of Agriculture are offering to provide free food for congregations willing to serve as distribution or feeding points. To qualify, churches must commit by June 15 to being part of the program.

The USDA is providing funds for the food, and the Texas Department of Agricul-ture is administrating the program on the state level.

Last year, Texas schools served an average of 2.1 million lunches for free or reduced prices to students from lower-income families each day. However, during the summer, fewer than 322,000 lunches were served at no cost each day. Texas has the highest rate of child food insecurity in the nation.

Increasing summer meal service for children is one goal of the Texas Hunger Initiative, a partnership be-tween Texas Baptists and the Baylor University School of Social Work aiming to end hunger in Texas by 2015.

If the USDA provides the food, a church cannot perform evangelistic efforts during the meal, but the food distribution period time can be worked into a larger program, such as Vacation Bible School, that has spiritual components, officials with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission explained.

For example, churches can pray and share the gospel during an optional time just prior to distributing food. They can also share the gospel in an optional time after the food distribution.

For more information about participating in the Summer Food Service Program, call (888) 244-9400.