What

In Kansas, nearly 1 in 4 children live in poverty. However, the Federal Summer Meals Program provides funding for communities to host sites where kids can be guaranteed a meal during the summer months. Unfortunately, Kansas ranks 50th* in the nation for the percentage of children served by the summer meal program.

The Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting a Summer Meals Summit in Wichita to hear from civic leaders, parks and recreation, educators, faith-based organizations and more, about best practices as well as barriers to participation. The Summit will focus on urban and rural communities in both Eastern and Western Kansas and will include breakout discussions for all four groups.

Please encourage your community join us; we need your voices to help solve this crisis. Register here.

Who

Leaders from the following organizations will present and moderate sessions:

• Share Our Strength
• Food and Research and Action Center
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Kansas Appleseed

When

January 26, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where

Kansas Leadership Center and Kansas Health Foundation Conference Center
325 E. Douglas Avenue
Wichita KS 67202

Travel Info

The conference is free of charge and lunch will be provided. For those individuals who live more than 175 miles from Wichita, the Kansas Health Foundation will provide one nights’ lodging on January 25, 2015 (room rate and taxes) at the Ambassador Hotel. Participants will be responsible for any other hotel charges (i.e., room service, etc.). Be sure to mention the Kansas Summer Meals Summit when making your reservations. Reservations must be received by January 4. You will need to provide a credit card number in order to guarantee your reservation: 316-239-7100.

*Source: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Summer Nutrition Status Report 2013