Parents
FIND A SITE | RESOURCES | ACTIVITY PROGRAMS | ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
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- WHAT? Free food and fun in the summer sun
- WHO? For kids and teens (18 and younger)
- WHERE? At a site in your area
Learning does not end when school lets out; neither does the need for good nutrition!
Through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), free, nutritious meals like breakfast, lunch and snack are available for kids 18 and under all summer long!
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NOTE: Attendance at many sites fills up quickly, so be sure to CALL THE SITE IN ADVANCE.
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Family budgets are pretty tight these days. Luckily, there are resources available to help families make ends meet in these tough times. This link will provide you with information about resources that can help you stretch your budget for food, utilities, rent and other family essentials.
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Summer activity programs are a great way to make sure that your kids’ minds & bodies stay active, and will be ready to learn when the school year rolls back around.
Though there are other programs that may be available, the following links may be a good place to start searching for activity sites in your area:
City and county governments may also be able to direct you to other summer activity programs. If your county has a Children’s Services Council or Children’s Commission, they might also help you find activity sites available for local children. It’s possible that these sites charge for their activity program, though the meals may be free and open to all kids. Also, not all sites provide free meals through SFSP.
Have other questions? Please send them to us on our Contact Us page. We should be able to respond within 12 - 72 hours.
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The Summer Food Service Program is a federal nutrition program that local non-profits and schools use to make sure kids in their communities don't go hungry during the summer.
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At almost all sites, there is no application necessary and any child 18 or younger can simply come during meal times to receive a meal. However, we do suggest that you give them a call first to let the site know that your child may be coming during meal time. Some sites ask that an adult or responsible teen accompany children during the meal time because they don't have staff to handle extra children that may not be a part of their regular activity program.
Exception: A few sites (like overnight camps and sites in higher income areas) do require that parents fill out a form about family income in order for children to receive meals.
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There is no cost for meals. USDA requires that meals be served at no charge to the children. However, the site may have a fee set for the activity program that they provide.
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Click to Find A Feeding Site In Your Area. 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, contact your local sponsors to let them know that a need exists in your community. Call the Florida Department of Education's Food and Nutrition Management Department at 1-800-504-6609 (or Contact Us) to find out who the local sponsors are.
Also, see Question #9 for information on ways to collaborate with your community to bring a site to your area
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If you are not within walking distance of a site, you will likely need to arrange transportation to the site. Transportation is sometimes available in rural areas, or in conjunction with a sites activity program. In more urban areas, there are often sites within walking distance. If this is a concern for you, you should contact the site and ask them if they offer transportation.
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Many sites have enrichment activities. You can check the type of activities offered by the site if you call them. Registration for the program may be required.
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The Summer Food Program is federally funded under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and, in Florida, administered by the Department of Education. Sites are locally operated by non-profit organizations (Sponsors) that provide the meals and receive a reimbursement from USDA through the Department of Education. For more information, you can visit our About SFSP page.
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Summer Food sites serve nutritionally balanced meals that meet USDA guidelines. All lunches include:
- 1 serving of milk
- 2 servings of fruits and/or vegetables
- 1 serving of grains
- 1 serving of protein
To view sample menus, please visit: www.frac.org/afterschool/menus.htm or
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/Administration/meal_patterns.html.
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If there are no feeding sites in your community, you can mobilize your community to sponsor the program. In order for a feeding site to exist in your community, a school district, nonprofit organization, or local government agency must be the program sponsor and be responsible for the administration of the program. To begin mobilizing your community, contact the following people and groups, and tell them there is an interest in the community to feed children in the summer. Contact:
- Existing Sponsors (For this information, Contact Us or the Florida Department of Education at 1-800-504-6609)
- School Principals
- Teachers
- Parent Teachers Associations
- School Food Service Managers
- School officials such as the School Board or Superintendent of Schools
- The Mayor's office
- Recreation and Parks Office
- County officials
- Elected Officials
- Local Food Bank
- See #2 in the Steps to Starting Your Own Summer Food Service Program guide for more suggestions for community partners.
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Volunteer! The best SFSP sites have organized, well-run activities that keep the interest of the children and teens coming back to the site day after day. Some of these activities include arts and crafts, tutoring, mentoring, drama, sports, computer training, music, gardening, reading programs, cooking or any other creative ideas you may have. Many sites have enlisted local fire and police departments, local celebrities, local businesses and local political figures to make presentations to their SFSP sites. The only limitation is your imagination.
Also, see the Providers page for more information on volunteering.
You can also help advocate for improvements in the program. Contact Us for more information on this.
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Florida Impact is a statewide private, non-profit organization
