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Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Laura Lane with Rabun County Family Connection sets up Happy Helpings during the library summer reading program launch, offering meals to those 18 and under.
CLAYTON- The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s (DECAL) Nutrition Services Division announced that it is partnering with Rabun County Family Connection to kickoff the summer meals season. The kick-off event will be held on Tuesday, June 13, at the Rabun County Public Library.
During the event, children and teens aged 18 and younger will receive free nutritious meals through Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program; a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The kick-off event will start in the Library’s Community Room at 11 a.m. with a Kindness Rock Painting activity. Following the rock painting, the event will move down to the Pavilions at the Rabun County Civic Center behind the library where the kids will be served lunch from 11:25 a.m. to noon and enjoy physical activities, a hydration station, and games until 1 p.m.
“We are excited to partner with Rabun County Family Connection and the Rabun County Public Library to bring summer meals to the Rabun County community,” said Sonja Adams, senior manager of Provider Services for DECAL’s Nutrition Division. “Happy Helpings meals can help fill the nutritional gap during the summer when school is out, so that kids get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow,” she said.
Laura Lane with Rabun County Family Connection said she and her summer food staff are eager to serve families in Rabun County by providing these free meals at various locations throughout the community. “We are looking forward to a great event with the library on June 13 to showcase the meal program in a fun setting,” Lane said. “Our meal program began on June 5 this year and we encourage families to come out and give it a try.”
“The Rabun County Public Library is thrilled to once again assist the Rabun County Family Connection to help those in need in the community. We look forward to see the community at this and other library events which are free and open to the public,” said Branch Manager and Librarian Dyana Costello Banks.
Happy Helpings meal sites are located throughout the state at designated sites including parks, libraries, churches and apartment complexes. Families can find a Happy Helpings meal site in their area by texting “summer meals” to 914-342-7744 or call 1-866-348-6479. Sites in Rabun County are listed on the Rabun County Family Connection facebook page and on the rabun.gafcp.org website. Please call Rabun County Family Connection 706-782-8390 with any questions.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.
The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
-Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
-Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
-Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.