The Summer Food Service Program: How Free Summer Meals Build Community
Photo Credit © Daria-Yakovleva--3938704 on Pixabay.By the time May rolls around, teachers and students are ready for summer break. They’re excited for a month and a half of relaxation and fun before class starts again. For many, it’s the best time of the year!
Unfortunately, summer is not a carefree season for everyone.
Millions of families rely on school-based nutrition programs, such as the School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program, to provide healthy meals for their children throughout the year. When summer break arrives and parents are suddenly responsible for providing each child with 21 meals a week (plus snacks) instead of the usual 10-12, lower income families may struggle. As a result, summertime means months of empty bellies and hungry children in too many households.
Thankfully, schools and community programs around the country are working hard to combat this issue through the Summer Food Service Program.
How It Started
Summer meals began as a pilot program in 1968. State officials had voiced a need for greater support in providing meals to low-income communities, and helping children when school was not in session seemed like a perfect solution.
The pilot, known as the Special Food Service Program for Children, combined funding for summer meals and childcare meals. However, the summer initiative caught on especially quickly and, by 1969, already had 1,200 sites and served 99,000 children.
Given the program’s success, in 1975 Congress authorized an official grant and the separate Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was officially born [FN1].
How the Summer Food Service Program Works
Like the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, “the SFSP reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens in low-income areas” [FN2].
SFSP providers are public or nonprofit schools, local government sites, nonprofit organizations/camps or universities located in school districts where 50% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced meals [FN3]. Before receiving approval, all providers (sponsors) must attend the state agency’s SFSP training, designate an appropriate pick-up site, find and train staff or volunteers, and arrange for meals to be prepared and delivered [FN4].
Once the organization is approved and plans are put in place, officials work with local schools to spread the word about where students can go to pick up their summer meals and snacks. Pick-up sites may be schools, camps, churches, libraries, parks, pools, and any other place where children can safely gather and eat. In rural communities where students are more spread out, school districts may choose to offer bus rides to food distribution sites or arrange some sort of delivery service.
Children aged eighteen and under are eligible for one or two meals every day, but camps that primarily serve migrant children often offer a full three meals. In contrast with school breakfasts and lunches, which are provided at free or reduced cost based on a family’s income, SFSP meals are always free for participating children [FN5].
Creativity and Community
While many other food programs have to work within the confines of a school schedule, the SFSP has the luxury of open summer schedules. As a result, programs can exercise a little bit of creativity and work to engage students and their communities at the same time. So, how do they do this?
Summer Kick-Off Celebrations
In many cities, the summer begins with a community wide kick-off celebration. Kick-off events include everything from live music, dancing, health and wellness classes, contests and more [FN6]. They also provide an opportunity to present SFSP to kids and their families and help eliminate some of the stigma around free meals. For example: while kids can sometimes be embarrassed about picking up free meals, they’re usually more than willing to come if it’s sold as a summer program full of fun activities [FN7]. In this sense, SFSP is not just a way to feed hungry kids — it’s also a great way to rally a community together around the idea of health and wellness.
Community Building Programs
After the kick-off event, sponsors continue to find creative ways to engage kids throughout the summer. The goal is to make Summer Food Service Programs into places where kids of all ages feel welcome.
In some communities, SFSP partners with First Book: a nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost books to each child that attends the program [FN8]. Other sponsors offer classes that cover various aspects of health, from cooking to exercise to gardening.
In Brattleboro, Vermont, the SFSP hosts movie nights, skating contests and more, encouraging teens to spend their days at the center — safe and out of harm’s way. They even help older teens find volunteer positions and begin to grow their resumes.
Finally, the SFSP in Southbridge, Massachusetts is partially run by a group of local policemen, working to break down barriers between police and the youth in their city. By offering fun activities, they have seen participation continue to grow.
Although the Summer Food Service Program was started as a way to feed hungry kids when school is out of session, it has slowly turned into something more. If you are interested in volunteering or know a child who could benefit from this service, text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call 1-866-348-6479 to find a site near you [FN9].
Resources
1. https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/program-history
2. https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SFSP-Fact-Sheet.pdf
3. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/458
4. https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/frequently-asked-questions
5. https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/sfsp/smt-comparison.pdf
6. https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/sfsp/smt-events.pdf
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A5KOqsVeIs&list=PLBccton6gOdp0d5YdliI3TtRcSDtCdmzH&index=2
8. https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/sfsp/smt-first_book.pdf
9. https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program