Sponsors Needed for Summer Meals Program

OLYMPIA — January 10, 2022—The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is seeking sponsors for the 2022 USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP helps ensure children and teens living in low-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer, or during emergency school closures, when they do not have access to school meals.

Who Can Sponsor the SFSP

This federally funded program may be sponsored by public and private nonprofit schools, residential and non-residential summer camps, private nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, and units of local, county, municipal, and state government. Colleges and universities that participate in the Upward Bound Program may also sponsor meal sites.

Eligible sponsors will operate a non-profit meal program for children age 18 and younger. Meal sites must be in areas where at least 50% of the children are qualified for free or reduced-price school meals, or where at least 50% of the children enrolled in a specific program are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. All children - regardless of family income level - can receive a free meal at a site once the site has been approved.

Meals Served Under the SFSP

Meals must meet USDA meal pattern requirements for the SFSP. Sponsors may prepare their own meals or purchase them from a school district or food service management company. Sponsors are reimbursed for eligible meals served.
Up to two meal types per day, per child, may be claimed for reimbursement at each site. Sites serving primarily children of migrant workers, and residential camp sites, may claim up to three meal types per day, per child. Reimbursement rate information is located on the CNS Claims, Fiscal Information and Resources webpage.

Program Training

Applications to sponsor the SFSP will be available mid-spring. Program sponsors are required to attend training to operate the program. Training information for those who are interested in participating during summer 2022 will be released soon. Please visit the SFSP Communications webpage for up-to-date information.

For more information, please email the Summer Meals Team at summermeals@k12.wa.us, call 360–725–6200, or visit the Summer Food Service Program webpages.

Mail: Attn: Child Nutrition Services, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, PO Box 47200, Olympia, Washington 98504–7200.