Summer Food Service ProgramLearning Support :

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides cash reimbursement to eligible sponsoring organizations to cover the cost of nutritious meals and snacks served during the summer. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, but those programs end when the school year ends.

New! Beginning summer 2008: “Simplified” Summer Food Service Program Available in Minnesota.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Congress passed a law, effective January 1, 2008, which expands the “Simplified” Summer Food Service Program nationwide. Simplified SFSP procedures, previously available to 27 states, will be offered in Minnesota to all SFSP sponsors beginning summer 2008. Sponsoring organizations will benefit by receiving the full SFSP operational and administrative reimbursements without a monthly comparison to costs and streamlined cost accounting. View the memo and FAQ about the “Simplified” Summer Food Service Program below for details.

Consider participating in the SFSP. Many of the needy areas around the state have no sponsors to offer SFSP meals. Before starting the program, sponsors will receive training to learn how to plan, operate, and monitor a successful food service program.

Eligible sponsors include public and private nonprofit schools, colleges or universities, residential and nonresidential camps, migrant sites and other nonprofit organizations who want to combine a meal program for children, 18 and under, with a summer activity program.

Sponsors which participate in the School Nutrition Programs have two choices for summer meals: the Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option (click on the related link on the left).

To apply, click on the SFSP Application Materials section link on the right.

USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Handbooks
Sponsors are required to have the current version of the following handbooks available in their office and provide staff with the appropriate handbooks. One set of handbooks will be provided to each sponsor, however they may be downloaded from the *USDA SFSP Library link or the main USDA website link located under Related Links on the left or downloaded directly using the quick links below:

• Administrative Guidance for Sponsors - 2008
• Site Supervisor's Guide - 2008:  also available in Spanish (Espanol)
• Monitor's Guide - 2008
• Nutrition Guidance for Sponsors and References - 2008

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) rules refer to the Federal Regulations for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

*Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.