Applications for Summer Meal Programs Available

Image used for illustration only / – Courtesy photo

Applications are now available for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), both federally funded, state-administered programs that serve free meals to children when school is out of session.

“For children who participate in the National School Lunch program during the school year, food insecurity during the summer is a serious issue,” Torlakson said. “Summer access to healthy and nutritious meals helps kids return to school prepared to learn. We need organizations to participate as summer meal providers to help feed children who are in need.”  

The summer food programs reimburse participating organizations that serve meals when students are on summer vacation or when students who attend year-round school are out of class for 15 or more consecutive days.             

Summer meal sites are located in communities where at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. All meals meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition requirements, and no paperwork is required for children to participate.

Organizations eligible to participate in Summer Meal Programs include schools, camps, nonprofits, tribal governments, and government agencies. Applications are due by June 1, 2018. 

For more information about Summer Meal Programs, visit the California Department of Education Summer Meal Programs Web page. If your agency is interested in becoming a sponsor or hosting a meal site, contact the Summer Meals Unit by phone at 1-800-952-5609 or by e-mail at sfsp@cde.ca.gov. If your organization is not able to provide meal services, please consider promoting Summer Meal Sites in your community. You can locate meal sites on the Summer Meal Service Site Web page.

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