The Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals to low-income children during school vacations. The SFSP served 2.2 million children a day at more than 28,000 sites across the country during the summer of 1996. State education agencies administer most programs at the State level, but other State agencies may also be designated. Food and Consumer Service regional offices administer a few state programs. Locally, it is operated by approved sponsors, which receive reimbursement from USDA through their State agencies for the meals they serve and for their documented operating costs.
Sponsors provide meals at a central site, such as a school or community center.
All meals are served free to eligible participants. Homeless feeding sites that primarily serve homeless children may participate regardless of location. Children 18 and under and people over 18, who are determined by a State educational agency to be mentally or physically handicapped and who participate in a school program for the mentally or physically handicapped, may receive meals through the Summer Food Service Program. At most sites, participants receive either one or two meals a day. Residential camps and sites that primarily serve children from migrant households may be approved to serve up to three meals per day.