Second Harvest announces additions to Afterschool Snack Program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Second Harvest North Florida Kids Cafe Program has added three sites to its 2009-10 Afterschool Snack Program, a subcomponent of the Child Care Food Program provided through the Florida Department of Health.

Fifty-seven Kids Cafe sites now offer low-income children in its neighborhood a safe place to find nourishment, have positive role-models and participate in educational and social development activities. The program is designed to provide nutritious snacks to children at no separate charge.

The newest programs are:
Eureka Gardens -  1214 LaBelle Street Jacksonville FL  32205
Young Minds – 213 East 6th Street Jacksonville FL  32206
Chosen Vessels – 4545-3 Shirley Avenue Jacksonville FL  32210

Kids Cafe is a program of Feeding America and was founded in 1989 to help fight childhood hunger. Even mild levels of malnutrition can impair a child's ability to learn. For school children, missing meals diminishes the ability to recall and use newly acquired information, verbal fluency, and control of attention, all of which have a negative impact on a child's ability to learn, decrease self-esteem, and contribute to performance problems.

Kids Cafe works through donated and purchased foods and supplies. Staff and volunteers assist with homework and other planned activities.

Second Harvest North Florida provides more than 10,000 nutritious meals and after-school snacks to children during the week while schools are in session.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, all institutions that participate in the Child Care Food Program are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).