Summer Food Service Program

HUNGER DOES NOT TAKE A SUMMER VACATION

While learning does not end when school lets out, neither does the need for good nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is good nutritious food that is “in” when school is “out”. Over 12 million poor children, who qualify to receive a free or reduced price lunch during the academic year, will be deprived of this vital meal. The implications for these children’s health and well-being are significant. For over two months, the vast majority of these children will not have access to nutritious meals like the ones they receive during the school year.

We cannot accept this nutrition gap. Here at the State Department of Education (SDE), we can encourage and inform many people about the benefits of the SFSP, but the decision whether or not to offer the program to needy children will always be a local one. By working together to provide these children with adequate nutrition during the summer we can improve this situation significantly.

Sponsor Information

Sponsor Locator

Mandated Sponsor Videoconferences will be March 7, 12, and 15 | Register Online (http://ok.gov/sde/node12983) |

For more resource and training information on the SFSP go to www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/default.htm

APPLICATION DUE: MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

Who can sponsor SFSP?

Sponsors must be organizations that are fully capable of managing a food service program. To be a sponsor, you must follow regulations and be responsible, financially and administratively, for running your program. Eligible organizations include:

• Public or Private Nonprofit Schools
• Units of Local, Municipal, County, Tribal, or State Government
• Private Nonprofit Organizations
• Public or Private Nonprofit Camps
• Public or Private Nonprofit Universities or Colleges

A sponsor may provide its own meals, purchase meals through an agreement with an area school, or contract for meals with a food vendor.

What is a site?

The SFSP reaches only a fraction of the children in need. The primary reason for the limited access to the program is that there are not enough feeding sites. Your community building or place of faith could become a feeding site. Sites are the physical locations where food is served. Each site location must work with a SFSP sponsor that is financially and administratively responsible for the meal service at the site. You can also help by coordinating site participation with other youth activity programs in your area. There are three common types of sites: open, camps (residential and nonresidential), and closed enrolled sites.

• Open (at least half the children in the area are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals).
• Enrolled (at least half the children enrolled in the program are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals).
• Camp (it offers a regularly scheduled food service as part of a residential or day camp program).

Who is eligible to receive free meals?

• All children 18 years of age or younger who come to an approved open site or to an eligible enrolled site.
• At camps, only the children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
• People over age 18 who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities.

Reimbursement Rates (combined)

(January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013)

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination forward immediately to:

or call toll free (866)632-9992 (Voice), Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800)845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information on becoming a SFSP sponsor, please contact the Oklahoma State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs at (405) 521-3327.