National Child & Adult Care Food Program Week March 12-18

Catholic Charities, as one of three Delaware sponsors of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, works to help licensed child care homes and centers serve nutritious meals to children in their care. During National Child & Adult Care Food Program Week Week, Sunday to Saturday, March 12 to 18, Catholic Charities joins with Delaware family child care providers in acknowledging the many ways the community benefits from the program. Not only does program participation enable children to receive nutritious meals, but it also establishes positive eating habits at the earliest stages of development, helps reduce future healthcare and education costs due to lack of proper early development, and provides training and support of local child care personnel. Catholic Charities has been a program sponsor since 1981.

Richelle A. Vible, executive director, said, "Catholic Charities is happy to support these thoughtful child care providers in their quest to do what's right for the children and families they serve. It's a program that fulfills our mission of promoting the well-being of people. Children cared for by providers participating in the CACFP benefit by not only being fed nutritious, USDA-regulated meals, but also by receiving nutrition education that helps them establish positive eating habits they can apply throughout their life."

Good nutrition is the recipe for an all-around happier child. Providers receive nutrition education and support services from their program sponsor that help them serve nutritious meals and create positive eating environments for children. The quality of child care provided in the community is improved due to educational and financial resources available to caregivers through the program.

The program supports 238 home providers and 22 centers, serving 126,615 meals to more than 3,100 children each month. Catholic Charities, serving those in need for over 185 years, offers a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged, and build human relationships throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. For more information, go to www.cdow.org/charities or call 302-655-9624.