Cover 3 Foundation will be a local sponsor of the Virginia Department of Health’s Summer Food Service Program for the third summer in the Hampton Roads and Western Tidewater area.

During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs.

Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. Hunger also may make children more prone to illness and other health issues.

During the summer, more children have weight gain or weight loss, because they do not have access to the good nutrition provided by school lunches or summer feeding programs. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutritional gap and make sure children can get the necessary meals.

C3’s Kid’s Meals are being served in 51 locations. Nearly 3,000 children are receiving healthy and nutritious snacks and suppers daily. During the summer of 2012, 18 sites participated in the SFSP program that was offered by Cover 3 Foundation to provide meals for their programs.

The central kitchen staff and volunteers produced 11,220 breakfasts, 30,433 lunches, 4,507 suppers and 24,842 snacks to feed 1,500 to 1,700 children daily.

This summer, C3’s Kids Meals are being offered to churches, community centers, recreation centers, summer education programs, summer sports programs, vacation Bible schools and housing communities.

There are numerous meal options available through the SFSP program, including breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and supper.

To find out if your site or program qualifies, contact the Cover 3 Foundation office at 562-2252 or via email to kidsmeals@cover3foundation.org. The deadline for applications is April 1.

Cover 3 Foundation is in also seeking volunteers for C3’s Kid’s Meals this summer. If you are a high school junior or senior or a college student wanting or needing community-service hours, you can earn your hours by applying for Cover 3 Foundation’s Young Philanthropist Program.

The Young Philanthropist Program was designed to give high school and college students the opportunity to work with Cover 3 Foundation’s many community outreach programs. Philanthropists donate 40 percent of their work hours back to the organization.

In addition to volunteering service to their community, The Young Philanthropist Program gives the students an opportunity to receive mentoring, life skills lessons and job training from the Cover 3 Foundation staff.

If you are an adult that just wants to give back to the community, send your resume to kidsmeals@cover3foundation.org.