HANCOCK — Superintendent Steve Patchin said that the Weekly Wednesday food distribution to area students is in transition to a summer feeding program, which has a different funding source. Because of the change in programs and funding sources, parents who wish continue participating in the program must again apply, in order to receive the funds necessary to continuing the program.

“We apologize for asking you to sign up again for the program,” said Patchin, “but it is required of us to continue our service to you.”

The link to the survey is: https://tinyurl.com/y9kwotlp

The Summer Food Service Program(SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered program. The SFSP reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session. The SFSP , also known as the Summer Meals Program, was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. When school is out, SFSP provides free meals to kids and teens in low-income areas.

Hancock Public Schools and Houghton Portage Public Schools are continuing our food distribution programs through the summer until school begins again in the fall.

“We will be accepting families from other schools discontinuing their programs for the summer in the Keweenaw” said Patchin. “Our goal is to keep students fed in our communities. Thanks in advance for your patience if distribution lines grow a bit.”

The program the schools signed up for requires set food allocation amounts, Patchin said.

Patchin said that many parents have stated the food they receive is more than they need. In order to fulfill the funding application, however, people need to accept all food being distributed.

“Many of you have stated it is more than you need. In order to fulfill our grant funding obligations we need you to take all food being distributed.

“We encourage you to donate the food you don’t need to your neighbors, the Salvation Army in Hancock, or other community organizations in need,” Patchin said.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are three components to the SFSP: State agencies, sponsors (in this case, the schools) and the sites where the food is distributed. The state agencies administer the program and communicate with the USDA.

Sponsors enter into agreements with State agencies to run the program. Schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based and other non-profit community organizations that have the ability to manage a food service program may be SFSP sponsors. Sponsors get reimbursed by the program and may manage multiple sites.