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MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu
FAU Organizes Summer Food Service Program
BOCA RATON, FL (June 3, 2005) - As summer draws near, students at Florida Atlantic University's Campus Volunteer Center are preparing for the annual Summer Food Service Program. The program, partially funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Education, provides meals for nine summer camps in the Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach and Delray Beach areas during the months of June, July and August.
Through the work of FAU's Campus Volunteer Center, nutritionally balanced meals at no cost will be provided to children ages 18 and under who are enrolled at qualifying camp sites where breakfasts and lunches at school are not available. Over 950 campers will benefit from the program this year alone.
The campers participating in this program are youths who receive free or reduced-price school lunches at area public schools during the school year. The summer Food Program helps families be relieved of some of the financial burden of providing their children with adequate daycare and nutrition during the summer months. The program serves geographic areas of need where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year.
The camps participating this year include the Boys and Girls Club, Carver Estates Youth Program, G.A.T.E. Salvation Army, Milagro Center, Lois Martin Community Center, Youth Activity Center and West Side Park Recreational Center.
Area businesses, restaurants and individuals are asked to sponsor the program each year and, without them, this program would not be possible. Donations make a difference in enabling this program to get better quality food to more underprivileged children as the need increases.
Although this program is partially funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Education, this grant only covers 70% of the cost of the program. Donations from local businesses and individuals are necessary to keep this program running. An account has been set up in the FAU Foundation to support this program. Checks can be made payable to the FAU Foundation / Summer Food Program and can be sent to: FAU Volunteer Center, UC 207, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431.
Michelle Perkins, director of the Dr. Daniel B. Weppner Campus Volunteer Center, is the program manager. Yara Sandoval and Monica Jara, both FAU students, oversee the university's compliance with all state and federal guidelines.
For more details about how to enroll a child at a camp sponsored by this program or to learn about how you can support this program, call the FAU Campus Volunteer Center at 561-297-3607.
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