HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three Pennsylvania Summer Food Service Programs – the Pine Valley Bible Camp in Ellwood City, Lawrence County; the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA in Milton, Northumberland County; and the University of Pennsylvania, Fox Leadership Program in Philadelphia – have received the Summer Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Summer Food Service Program provides federal funding to non-profit organizations that provide nutritious meals to children under the age of 18 while school is not in session.

Sponsored by the state Department of Education, the award-winning programs must have demonstrated innovation and hard work to ensure that children receive nutritious meals during the summer months.

During the summer of 2010, the Pine Valley Bible Camp endured a devastating fire that destroyed several buildings. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Through it all, Pine Valley was able to rebuild prior to the summer of 2011 in order to continue serving children.  

Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA sets a yearly goal of adding at least one site each summer, actively seeking out sites so that more children can receive meals. The YMCA, which now has 18 summer food sites, provides summer meal services at playgrounds, community swimming pools and day camps.  

The University of Pennsylvania, Fox Leadership Program, developed an online resource, www.pasummermeals.com, which is an electronic-based summer meals location finder to assist families in locating nearby summer meal sites.  

Pennsylvania has many non-profit organizations that are eager and willing to assist hungry children in their communities.  Non-profit organizations that would like to sponsor a summer food service program in the future may contact PDE's Summer Food Service Program at 1-800-331-0129.

Media Contact: Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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