Summer school lunch program

18 June 2008 1 views No Comment

Schoolchildren eating hot school lunches made up primarily of food from the surplus commodities program. Taken at a school in Penasco, New Mexico, United States.

Here’s a program I didn’t even know existed. The USDA runs a Summer Food Service Program that effectively acts as a summertime proxy for the school lunch program for the 18 million school children who rely on subsidized school lunches during the school year.

However, many schools and summer recreation programs are not aware that federal funds are available to provide free meals and snacks to children in needy areas during the summer months. Did you know it existed?

SFSP sponsors receive payments for serving healthy meals and snacks to children and teenagers, 18 years and younger, at approved sites in low-income areas.

Who is eligible to get free meals?

All children 18 years and younger who come to an approved site may receive meals. Sites must be located in low-income communities or must serve primarily low-income children. At camps, only the children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals may receive SFSP meals.

To find an approved site, contact the USDA office nearest you.

If you know a family that uses the school lunch program, and they don’t know about the summer school lunch program, PLEASE tell them! Their kids deserve to get nutrition year-round.