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About the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

• 2012 Summer Food factsheet for communities
• 2012 Summer Food factsheet for parents
• Simplified Summer Food Brochure (FRAC)
• See summer food in action! View a slideshow of summer meal sites in New York State
• Brief video about the SFSP (USDA)
• National Summer Food Service Program Week: June 11-15, 2012!

For Organizations Looking to Start a Summer Food Program

Materials and resources with information on how to be a new program sponsor or meal site:

• 2012 Potential and Existing Sponsors Training Announcement (NYSED, Feb 2012)
• 2012 Summer Food factsheet for potential program sponsors or meal sites
• Learn more about the benefits of being a program sponsor if you are a school, local government, or private non-profit
• All About Summer Food Webinar: In March 2011, Hunger Solutions New York and the New York State Education Department co-sponsored a free, one hour-long discussion about the SFSP
• Program Sponsor Checklist: Thinking about operating a program and providing meals to kids this summer? Here is a list of things to think about before starting
• Meal Site Checklist: Thinking about serving meals to kids this summer? Here is a list of things to think about before starting

Program eligibility: There are a variety of ways organizations can qualify to be part of the SFSP.  Most commonly, is to prove that meals will be served to kids in low-income areas.  To identify if your organization is located in a program-eligible area, please see links to two sources of information.  Please note: if you do not meet such requirements, your organization may still be eligible to serve summer meals to kids. 

• 2012 School data for SFSP eligibility (NYSED)
• 2010 Census data with SFSP Target Mapper (FRAC) (note: some revisions)

For Current Program Sponsors and Meal Sites

Thank you for operating the SFSP! Please find various resources to build and support your program:

Maintaining a Successful Program:

• SFSP Successes!  Survey Results: Great Ideas from Summer Food Sponsors (June 2010)
• Tips for Staying in the Black (FRAC)

Recruiting and Utilizing Volunteers:

• Suggested Ways Communities Can Support Your SFSP
• Volunteers Needed Announcement -- Sample/Template
• Sponsor-Site Donation Letter -- Sample/Template
• Help End Hunger Portal
• Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP): Ideal SFSP outreach partners!

 Other Program-Related Information:

• 2012 Reimbursement Rates
• SFSP Administrative Guidance (2011, USDA)
• Nutrition Guide (USDA)
• 2011 SFSP Sponsor Directory (January 2012)
• NYSED, Child Nutrition Program Administration Website
• Income Eligibility Form (for camps and closed-enrolled sites)
• Site Supervisor’s Pocket Guide
• Contract Procedures for Using a Vendor (NYSED)

Outreach and Promotion

When summer arrives, spreading the word about free meal sites is important!  Help us spread the word about free summer meals for kids:

• Tips for Engaging with the Media (Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force)
• USDA Outreach Toolkit (June 2010)
  • Announcement to Kids
  • Admit One for Kids
  • Blank Template
  • Door Hanger
• Share Our Strength 
  • Summer Meals Outreach (July 2011)
  • Findings from SFSP Parent Focus Groups (April 2012)
• Summer Food Promotions Slideshow: View examples of how sponsors and sites in NYS are currently promoting summer meals in their community. 
• SFSP Best Practices Tool (Northeast Regional Anti-Hunger Network)
• Hunger Solutions New York (May 2011)
  • Memo to school food authorities (SFAs) about Child Nutrition Reauthorization and SFSP outreach
  • Suggestions for SFAs to meet the SFSP outreach requirement
  • Notification to parents and families about meal sites
  • Meal site flyer, half page, English and Spanish (FRAC)

For Interested Individuals, Groups, and Volunteers

By getting involved with the SFSP, you can assist SFSP sponsors and sites by helping enrich their programs to make a difference with kids.  Here are few suggested ways you can help out:

• Information for local communities and faith-based congregations
• Suggested ways to help your nearest SFSP meal site

Reports and Data

Below are several reports containing information about the SFSP and participation:

• Bridging the Nutrition Gap, Summer 2010 (Hunger Solutions NY, September 2011) Report Text and County Tables
• Home Delivery Demonstration Project (August 2011)
• Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation, Summer 2010 (FRAC, 2011)
• Tackling Summer Hunger: Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry When School is Out (Share Our Strength, 2010)
• Summertime and Weightgain (National Center for Summer Learning, 2009)
• Federal Funding for Summer Meals (National Center for Summer Learning)
• Strategies in Tough Economic Times: Increasing Access to Summer Meals (FRAC)
• Rural Transportation Grants Successfully Increase Summer Food Participation, 2005-2006 (FRAC)