USDA Food and Nutrition Service Southeast Regional Office and the Atlanta Community Food Bank hosted the 2022 Southeast Food Bank and State Agency Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, in September.  The 2-day event for USDA staff, state agencies, food banks, and subject matter experts, featured networking opportunities, workshops and discussions concerning best practices and lessons learned to combat hunger including throughout the pandemic. The conference emphasized that collaboration is a fundamental mission to effectively provide access to healthy food to those who need it most across the southeast region.  

Each year, FNS recognizes National School Lunch Week (NSLW) during the second full week of October. This year’s theme was “Peace, Love, & School Lunch”.

USDA’s school meal programs provide critical nutrition to tens of millions of children every school day. School lunches provide important nutrients that students need to learn, grow, and be healthy. The 2022-2023 school year is marked with several unique challenges due to the transition from pandemic operations and supply chain issues that are significantly impacting school meal programs. FNS stands behind the school nutrition community as they work to provide healthy meals, despite operational challenges this school year. 

Over the course of the National School Lunch Week, SERO leadership attended several events throughout the region. These events included South Effingham High School in Guyton, GA and A.L. Burres Elementary School in Marietta, GA.  Click the videos below for highlights!

Each October, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service along with schools, communities, and partners across the country, recognize National Farm to School Month.  The awareness month is a win-win for kids, schools, farmers, and communities. Farm to School programs encourage school districts to offer seasonally available, regionally produced foods, often sourced directly from local farmers

Tucked away in rural Guyton, Georgia is the Honey Ridge Agricenter – a large farm owned and operated by the Effingham County School District.  During National Farm to School Month, SERO leadership made a special visit there to see how youth thrive while learning about growing fruits and vegetables, the importance of healthy eating and much more!  Click the video link below for highlights during the special visit.  

National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA) will announce the Power of the Food Program on December 7, 2022, as part of NCA’s commitment to the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in which they pledge to raise awareness and expand participation in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This powerhouse event will provide a step-by-step guide and training on the importance of the program, share how providers can participate in the CACFP, and provide nutrition education training. Scholarships are available to attend the program. 

USDA awards of nearly $53 million in grants funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will help WIC reach more eligible mothers and young children. 

“WIC is an incredibly powerful public health program, with strong, proven benefits for participants, so we’ve got to do all we can to connect eligible mothers, infants, and children to the program and provide them with a positive, meaningful experience,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.