Summer Food Service Program Toolkit

Posted by on May 27, 2013

USDA Summer Food Service Program 2013

The USDA provides free or reduced price lunches to 21 million children during the school year through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). However, during summer break only 3.5 million of those students participate in the summer feeding program. The program helps fill the summer food gap for low-income children by reimbursing organizations that serve children meals at feeding sites during summer months. Schools, churches, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, clinics, and camps can provide summer meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low income families, making a positive impact on the lives of hungry children.

A critical component to the effort is promoting access to and participation in Summer Meals. Our goal is to reach all children in need and for Summer 2013 we are working with partners to increase in service by 5 million additional meals and to achieve a 10% growth in targeted states of Arkansas, California, Colorado, Rhode Island and Virginia.

The Summer Food Service Program website is located at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program-sfsp . The Summer Food Service Program links below offer an expanded view, highlight the importance of the program, provide administrative guidance, connect to SFSP informational webcasts, offer suggestions in overcoming challenges, and provide contacts for further work with FNS Regional and State offices. The resource list includes “Summer Food Rocks!” an important flyer that promotes a toll-free number to help connect parents and children to sites that serve Summer Meals.

SFSP Toolkit : These handbooks offers tips and strategies to help sponsors and sites raise awareness of their programs among families in need. The toolkit in English is on the web at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/library/SFSP_toolkit.pdf ; a Spanish-language version is at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/library/sp-SFSP_toolkit.pdf .

SFSP “Summer Food Rocks!” Promotional Flyers : These flyers can be used to promote awareness of the program. The flyer in English is on the web at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/library/SFSP_Promotional_Flyer.pdf ; a Spanish-language version is at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/library/sp-SFSP_Promotional_Flyer.pdf .

FNS Regional Office Contacts: This link provides contact information for FNS regional leadership, in case you would like to raise issues specific to certain States: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices

. The Special Nutrition Programs (SNP) Director has lead responsibility for summer feeding, but you should also feel free to contact the Regional Administrator directly.

State Agency Contacts: Contact information for the agencies responsible for summer feeding programs in each State are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/office-type/child-nutrition-programs . (Click on State to find contact information; check the “Office Website” column to the far right to confirm that it is the office that operates SFSP.)

SFSP “Food, Fun and Sun” Contest Winners: This link – http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/contest/default.htm — highlights, in stories and photos, examples of innovative and highly successful summer feeding programs.

SFSP Webcasts: FNS series of SFSP informational webinars covered a wide range of topics, from faith-based organizations supporting SFSP, to eliminating transportation barriers in SFSP. Recordings are available here: http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/webinars/summer.htm

SFSP Handbooks: The links below will increase success in supporting SFSP for those engaging media, being a sponsor, or hosting a feeding site:

· Administrative Guidance for Sponsors: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/HandBooks/AdminGuideSponsors.pdf

· Monitor’s Guide: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/HandBooks/MonitorsGuide.pdf

· Nutrition Guidance for Sponsors: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/HandBooks/NutritionGuide.pdf

· Site Supervisor’s Guide – English: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/HandBooks/SiteSupervsGuide.pdf

· Site Supervisor’s Guide – Spanish: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/library/HandBooks/sp-SiteSupervsGuide.pdf

SFSP “Tips for Success – Rural Programs” Fact Sheet: The Fact Sheet provides tips for entities in rural areas thinking about becoming providing summer food on how to overcome transportation problems associated with rural programs. It is on the web at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/library/SFSP_Rural_Programs_Tips.pdf .