The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded program that provides free, nutritious meals to children age 18 or younger living in low-income areas, or pockets of poverty during the summer months when school is not in session. The SFSP can be sponsored by public or private nonprofit schools, or school districts; public or private nonprofit organizations, day or residential summer camps; local government agencies or tribal organizations. Summer feeding sites can be located in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, churches, rec centers, and many other facilities as long as the site meets the SFSP eligibility criteria.
Sponsors are reimbursed for the number of meals served to each eligible child multiplied by the appropriate reimbursement rate. The SFSP has higher reimbursement rates than any other Child Nutrition Program, yet it is one of the most under-utilized federal assistance programs. In school year 2019-2020 fifty-one percent (51%) of Alaska’s children were eligible for free and reduced-price meals, yet only 20% of the children that participated in the National School Lunch Program, participated in the Summer Food Service Program in FY20. The SFSP is the key to helping fill the hunger gap for children who receive free and reduced-price meals during the regular school year.
Meals to You (M2Y) is a new Summer Food for Children demonstration project administered by DEED aimed at expanding the SFSP and reducing food insecurity in rural Alaskan communities.
SFSP regulations require that all sponsors annually attend State Agency training, and also requires that they must train all administrative staff and site staff before they undertake their responsibilities.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, Child Nutrition Programs provides Summer Food Service Program training each spring. DEED Annual Training for summer 2024 has concluded.