Summer is here and it's time to prepare for breaks, vacations and camps. During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. What happens when school lets out? Well here is an option that you may not be awre of that may help you and your family this summer.  The USDA Summer Food Service Program is designed to fill that nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need.

Sound interesting? 

Here are some common asked questions about the program:

How can I find a feeding site in my area?
To find a feeding site in your area, contact those organizations in your community that are offering an activities program. Organizations offering activity programs are often local schools, community centers, recreation centers and faith based organizations. If you are unable to find a feeding site in your area, please contact your State agency and ask them for the location of the nearest feeding site.

You may also contact the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Public Information Staff at 703-305-2286.

Where does the program operate? 
States approve SFSP meal sites as open, enrolled, or camp sites. Open sites operate in low-income areas where at least half of the children come from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty level, making them eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Meals are served free to any child at the open site. Enrolled sites provide free meals to children enrolled in an activity program at the site where at least half of them are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Camps may also participate in SFSP. They receive payments only for the meals served to children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Who is eligible to get meals? 
Children 18 and younger may receive free meals and snacks through SFSP. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. 

How many meals do participants receive each day?
At most sites, children receive either one or two reimbursable meals each day. Camps and sites that primarily serve migrant children may be approved to serve up to three meals to each child, each day.

For more information visit:

 USDA Summer Food Service Program