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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced last month the launch of the state's Summer Electronic Benefits Program, known as SUN Bucks, at the Executive Mansion. Leaders from partnering agencies and FNS were alongside the Governor during this outstanding occasion.
"We applaud North Carolina for leading the way by implementing the Summer EBT in its inaugural year," said FNS's Cindy Long who was FNS Administrator at the time of the announcement. Long has since been named Deputy Under Secretary for USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. "This offers an exceptional opportunity to substantially reduce child hunger throughout the summer months - the USDA is excited to partner with North Carolina this summer and looks forward to assisting additional states in participating by Summer 2025," she said.
USDA estimates that the Sun Bucks program will extend grocery benefits to more than 800,000 children in North Carolina.
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USDA Sun Programs work together to connect every eligible child with nutritious food: at a site, on the go, and at the grocery store. Our summer programs provide: Group meal service at central locations, often with enrichment activities for kids to enjoy, Grab-n-go or home-delivered meals in some rural communities, and Food benefits for families to purchase groceries. |
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Snapshot of Southeast Sun Programs Kick-off Celebrations Around the Region |
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Central Georgia's Boys and Girls Club Kick-Off USDA Sun Programs with "Happy Helpings"
The Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia (BGCCG) is providing "Happy Helpings" to local youth as a component of the USDA's Sun Program. The kick-off event, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, offered children free nutritious meals and physical activities for an fun-filled afternoon.
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North Carolina's "Lunch with Poe" Kick-Off USDA Sun Programs at PlayWELL Park
The Poe Center for Health Education, in collaboration with Wake County Extension, is helping children in Raleigh, NC, to utilize USDA's Sun Programs through "Lunch with Poe" at the center's PlayWELL Park. The kick-off event featured a nutritious meal, games, arts and crafts, and educational activities about nutrition, all designed to support children's well-being throughout the summer.
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North Florida Kick-off USDA Sun Programs with a "Summer BreakSpot" Party Tour
The Summer BreakSpot Party Tour, organized by the Food, Nutrition, and Wellness division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, took place across Florida. The Party Tour offered free nutritious meals and a fun, safe environment for children and teens. The kick-off event featured music, dancing, face painting, and grilled burgers and hot dogs.
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The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who work hard to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months.
Congrats to the Southeast Regional Winners: FNS’ Southeast region recognized 26 summer meal sponsors with Turnip the Beet awards for excellence in program year 2023: 9 sponsors qualified for a gold award; 12 qualified for a silver award; and 5 qualified for a bronze award.
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(Video) USDA FNS visits Miami-Dade Boys and Girls: Feeding Our Youth Healthy Meals All Year Round |
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USDA FNS appreciated meeting the youth, educators and our partners at the Dr. Frederica S. Wilson Boys and Girls Club in the Miami, Florida, in March, for the kick-off of spring break and sharing great news about feeding our youth healthy meals all year round! |
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced over $2.3 million in grants by the USDA to five organizations. These grants aim to bolster child nutrition programs that provide a greater variety of indigenous foods to Tribal communities. Secretary Vilsack made this announcement at the National Congress of American Indians Convention in Cherokee, N.C., reiterating the USDA's dedication to supporting Tribal self-governance and self-determination.
(Photo by Levi Rickert.) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left) and NCAI President Mark Macarro, tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians, during a Q&A session on Wednesday, June 5 at the NCAI General Assembly in Cherokee, North Carolina.
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(Video) FNS Engage with Partners to Make MyPlate a Household Name |
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Dr. Caree Cotwright, FNS' Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity, worked in collaboration with the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy (CNPP) team to organize a SERO MyPlate Regional Listening Session. MyPlate replaced the Food Guide Pyramid, which was made before the internet. With the advancement of technology, MyPlate takes what we’ve learned from the Food Pyramid and now provides a personalized approach to healthy eating to help you meet your goals. |
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USDA FNS - Southeast serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and two Tribal Nations. Click the button below for partnership highlights from around the region. |
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The FNS Southeast Public Affairs Office has collected a Snapshot of recent News Coverage and X social media tweets highlighting our regional programs and events. Click below! |
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The Southeast Jr. Chef Competition Help Culinary Students Bridge Delicious Meals and School Nutrition |
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The Southeast Junior Chef Competition is an exciting annual event for culinary high school students to directly influence delicious school meals by incorporating locally sourced ingredients and FNS nutrition standards. Additionally, competitors work as a team to demonstrate their abilities in, food preparation, marketing, dish presentation, and knowledge of local food systems.
The 2024 Southeast Jr. Chef Competition was hosted by FNS State Agency partner, the Tennessee Department of Education, School Nutrition Program. Click here to hear from Ryan Yarnell, Chef for Nashville, TN Nutrition Services and one of the judges for the Competition.
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The Poe Center for Health Education, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to improving the health of North Carolina's youth through educational programs. The center features an onsite museum, playground, and garden, offering a range of interactive learning experiences. During the summer, they host two week-long Healthy Habits Camp sessions focused on the importance of nutrition and physical activity, utilizing SNAP Ed resources and engaging activities. The camp offers daily lessons, songs, fun fitness activities, cooperative games, gardening, nutrition education, arts and crafts, and cooking demonstrations. Campers also receive breakfast and lunch courtesy of the USDA Sun Programs. |
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North Carolina Hosts Statewide WIC 50th Anniversary and Conference |
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The 50th anniversary of WIC was celebrated in Durham, NC, from May 7-9, 2024. For the past fifty years, WIC has significantly improved the health of mothers, infants, and families. WIC professionals from all over North Carolina convened for workshops, networking, and to reaffirm their dedication to providing nutritious food, nutrition education, and other critical services essential for the health and well-being of WIC participants. For many attendees, this event was the first face-to-face meeting with peers since the previous statewide meeting before the pandemic. |
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USDA Announces WIC National Strategy, $29M in Supporting Funding Opportunities to Strengthen WIC Workforce |
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The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has announced a new Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Workforce National Strategy. This initiative, backed by over $29 million in funding opportunities, aims to enhance the WIC workforce. The USDA's investment focuses on outreach, innovation, and modernization to meet the needs of eligible families, noting that currently, only about half of those eligible participate in WIC. The primary objectives of this modernization include enrolling all eligible families, retaining them throughout their eligibility period, simplifying shopping to maximize benefit utilization, and ensuring WIC's equity and accessibility for all.
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National WIC Breastfeeding Week |
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Annually, during the first week of August, National WIC Breastfeeding Week is observed alongside World Breastfeeding Week to advocate and bolster breastfeeding as the optimal nutrition for infants. Supporters can share breastfeeding-related messages, images, and hashtags across personal or organizational social media platforms. You can access messages crafted by WIC State agencies under a grant to execute and assess the WIC Breastfeeding Support campaign, categorized by topics such as Mom Motivation, Thriving Baby, WIC Resources, Breastfeeding Tips, Family and Friends, and Breastfeeding Month.
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Employees from SERO SNAP E&T took part in the Office of Employment and Training (OET) activities and welcomed 20 State Agency SNAP teams to the 2024 SNAP E&T State Institute in Tysons, Virginia. Themed "Building a Bridge from Vision to Outcomes in Your SNAP E&T Program," the event provided a platform for State Agency teams to collaborate with FNS staff, formulating clear visions, strategies, and actionable steps to operate effective, client-centered SNAP E&T programs. |
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Strengthening SNAP: Grant Opportunities for States and Partners |
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SNAP is the largest domestic food and nutrition assistance program for low-income individuals in the nation. FNS is dedicated to improving the program and assisting its participants in accessing nutritious and healthy food. In line with these goals, FNS has announced the 2024 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants Program (PTIG) and the 2024 Fraud Framework Implementation Grant (FFIG) request for applications. USDA invite organizations to submit applications to support state agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners in creating and executing projects that leverage technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of the SNAP application and eligibility determination processes and curb recipient fraud.
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FNS Announces $26 Million of Investments in School Meal Programs |
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SNAP is the largest domestic food and nutrition assistance program for low-income individuals in the nation. FNS is dedicated to improving the program and assisting its participants in accessing nutritious and healthy food. In line with these goals, FNS has announced the 2024 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants Program (PTIG) and the 2024 Fraud Framework Implementation Grant (FFIG) request for applications. USDA invite organizations to submit applications to support state agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners in creating and executing projects that leverage technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of the SNAP application and eligibility determination processes and curb recipient fraud. |
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MyPlate is a visual reminder to make healthy choices from each of the five groups. MyPlate.gov offers tips and resources that support healthy dietary patterns. Learn more by visiting MyPlate | U.S. Department of Agriculture. |
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 Poe Center for Health Education chef making a smootie with a summer camper.
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As part of the federal response to disasters, emergencies, or pandemic, FNS plays a vital role by responding to nutrition assistance needs. FNS coordinates with state, territory, tribal, and voluntary organizations to provide nutrition assistance to families and individuals affected by a disaster or emergency. |
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