The need for healthy nutrition does not end when school lets out for the summer. Providing proper nutrition options is especially important for those children in low-income areas so they may learn, grow and be active throughout the summer months.

Thanks to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), free meals and snacks will again be available for low income children during the summer months through the 2011 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

The Tennessee Department of Human Services in cooperation with the Southwest Human Resource Agency and the City of Jackson will host a Summer Kick-Off Event in Jackson, Tennessee on Thursday, June 9, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. This event will celebrate the beginning of the statewide 2011 SFSP.

The event will be held at Westwood Center (3 Westwood Gardens) in the heart of Jackson, a hub that operates more than 200 community feeding sites for low-income children across a ten- county area.

“For many children from low-income homes, school is traditionally the source for their most nutritious meal of the day,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Raquel Hatter. “By ensuring good nutrition habits at an early age and offering balanced meals year round, we hope students gain nutritional stability and a solid foundation to select the appropriate food in their future.”

Authorized and funded by Congress, and administered through the USDA and each respective state, the SFSP helps to ensure that low-income children have opportunities throughout the summer to receive nutritious meals.

To implement the SFSP in Tennessee, DHS contracts annually with several local agencies that sponsor the preparation, delivery and serving of free meals and snacks to children at approved sites in low-income areas. In 2010, 58 sponsors served more than 2.6 million meals at 1,500 feeding sites statewide. Locations included parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, schools, churches, camps, housing projects, and other places accessible to needy children.

Sponsors must agree to serve meals to all children in attendance regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

To learn more about SFSP sites across the state, please call the National Hunger Hotline toll free at             1-866-3-Hungry      . This hotline serves as a clearing house to ensure that needy children are directed to the feeding sites that are closest to their communities.

If you would, please fill out the form below and write in the "message and subject" boxes where your favorite place is to eat at in Knoxville. We will announce the restaurant that gets the most votes. We will also pick someone to get a gift card to that place as a thank you for your participation:) We will e-mail or call the winner of the gift card. Thanks again for all the feedback. GO VOLS!!!