Photo: USDA
The New York State Education Department is accepting applications for the 2023 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Last year, 470 sponsoring organizations served meals at more than 2,500 locations across the state to young people in need.
“Summer Food Service Programs fill a critical need, providing free meals in safe and supervised community settings over summer break, when many students may go hungry without the security of school breakfast and lunch,” said Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. “I encourage any organization interested in fighting hunger in their community to apply to be a part of this special program that serves some of our most vulnerable students.”
“Too many young people and their families spend summer vacation worried about how to get enough to eat,” Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said. “Our community partners who participate in the Summer Food Service Program are doing heroic work, helping to ensure children and teens have safe spaces to find nutritious meals while schools are closed. Our goal is to increase the number of SFSP sites, and to decrease childhood hunger.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture established the SFSP to ensure that low-income children, 18 and younger, continue to receive nutritious meals when schools are not in session. Eligible organizations include public and nonpublic nonprofit schools; local, county, municipal, and state governmental entities; Indian tribal territories; migrant programs; nonprofit agencies; faith-based organizations: and camps. Sponsor organizations may also provide meals to eligible children in rural areas who do not have access to a summer meal site.
Reimbursement and Training
SFSP sponsor organizations receive federal and state reimbursement for each meal served to a child or teen, according to predetermined reimbursement rates set by USDA and the state. Sponsors are organizations fully capable of managing a food service program and agree to serve meals to any eligible child in accordance with Federal Law, and USDA policy, guidance, and instructions, including federal civil rights laws, regulations, and policies.
The New York State Education Department will provide SFSP sponsor training in-person and online in April. All organizations planning to participate in summer 2023 are required to attend one of these trainings. This year, the SFSP will operate throughout New York State from June 26 through September 4, 2023.
Potential new sponsors may request a sponsor application and obtain additional information on the SFSP website or contact the New York State Education Department, Child Nutrition Program Administration, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 486-1086. Email is also available at [email protected].
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
