Sponsors and meal sites needed for summer food service program

A program that targets children in low-income areas so they have meals during the summer when schools are out of session is seeking sponsors and meal sites.

The Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and managed locally by the Delaware Department of Education, needs sponsors and meal sites for locations throughout Delaware to increase the number of children 18 years of age or younger who receive nutritious and healthy meals during the summer months. Organizations that participate are eligible to receive reimbursements for meals served and administrative expenses.

Who can participate? Units of local government, camps, schools, and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to operate as sponsors.

Individual sites such as camps, housing complexes, community centers, parks and homes are eligible to operate as sites under a sponsor. The sponsor would prepare and deliver the meals to the site (some locations may be served by a food truck, depending on availability). An adult at the site would be required to be the site supervisor to oversee the meals being served. Children 18 and under may receive free meals and snacks. Meals and snacks also are available to people with disabilities who are over age 18 and participate in school programs.

Sponsors and sites will receive training to help them operate a successful program and will have continued support from the Delaware Department of Education throughout the course of the program. All sponsors and sites must agree to serve meals per the USDA nondiscrimination statement.

Eligibility is based on free and reduced-cost lunch data for a school for a particular area. To qualify as an open site that can feed all children, the site must be in an area where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free or reduced lunch. In addition, camps and enrolled programs may qualify based on individual income eligibility.

For more information on becoming a sponsor or site or to locate a sponsored site, call 302-857-3356 or go to www.doe.k12.de.us and search Summer Food Service Program.