Description

	Provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months and long vacation periods for schools on year-round schedules. Served 132.1 million meals in FY 2009.
	Reimburses sponsors, such as schools, local government agencies, residential and non-residential camps, and faith-based and other private nonprofit organizations for meals served to children at eligible sites.
	Bases payments on the number of meals served. For summer 2010, USDA’s maximum reimbursement rates per meal in most states are approximately: Breakfast - $1.85; Lunch/Supper - $3.25; and Snacks - $0.76.
	Serves up to two meals or one meal and one snack per day per child at schools, churches, recreation centers, camps, playgrounds, parks, and other community sites. Camps or sites that primarily serve migrant children may be approved to serve more meals.
	Provides USDA Foods to eligible sponsors.

Background

	In 1968, the Special Food Service Program for Children (SFSPFC) was created as a 3-year pilot program consisting of both the Child Care Food Program and the summer program. Congress reaffirmed its support of these programs and, in 1975 separated the child care and summer feeding component of the SFSPFC and provided each with individual legislative authorization.
	The SFSP was designed to ensure that school-aged children in lower-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during the long school vacation, when they did not have access to school lunch or breakfast.

Participants

	Served over 2.2 million children at about 34,670 meal sites in 2009.
	Participants are generally children 18 and younger. However, meals and snacks are also available to people with disabilities older than 18, who participate in school programs for the mentally or physically disabled.

Budget

	$312.2 million in FY 2008
	$356 million in FY 2009

Contact Information

For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer  or contact your State agency that administers the SFSP. View Agency listings at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer , select “Contacts.”

Last modified:11/30/2011