Summer Food Service ProgramLearning Support : Minnesota Department of Education

Summer Food Service Program

Summer Food Service Program

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and seeks sponsors to operate summer feeding sites serving free meals to at-risk children 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. The SFSP is available to fill that gap. The program provides federal reimbursement to eligible sponsoring organizations for both the meals served and the costs incurred in operating the meal service.

Sponsoring organizations 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.

There are many underserved communities around the state needing summer meal sites. New sponsors receive training and technical assistance from MDE. Interested organizations should submit the Interest Survey below for further information.

To determine a site's area eligibility for the SFSP or to view eligible areas in the state of Minnesota, view the Summer Food Area Eligibility Determination map.  Note:  Select "Hybrid" to verify the accuracy of the pointer and validate that the correct location is indicated on the map.

Sponsors which participate in the School Nutrition Programs have another option for summer meals: the Seamless Summer Option. Click on the Related Link on the left for further information.

USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Handbooks
Sponsors are required to have the current version of the following handbooks available in their office and also provide staff with the appropriate handbooks. One set of handbooks will be provided to each sponsor; however, the handbooks may be accessed from the *USDA SFSP Library link or by using the quick links below:

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) rules refer to the *7 CFR 225 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.

"Open" Summer Food Service Sites (summer 2009)  70Kb (6/26/2009)
     All sites provide free meals to children 18 and under. Meals offered may be breakfast, lunch, supper or snack. Sites listed by county, city, days of operation and site contact information.
2009 Declaration of Intent for Renewing Sponsors  101Kb (1/29/2009)  60Kb (1/29/2009)
     Form completed annually by Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to declare their interest in being a sponsor for the upcoming year.
2009 Interest Survey - New Participants  60Kb (1/29/2009)  70Kb (1/29/2009)
     Form completed by school food authority or nonprofit organization interested in more information about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
2009 Minnesota Summer Food Program Facts  187Kb (2/27/2009)  264Kb (2/27/2009)
     Key facts about participation, funding, eligibility and more for the Simplified Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
2009 Public School List with Percentage of Free and Reduced-price Students Used for Eligibility Determinations  509Kb (5/7/2009)  829Kb (5/7/2009)
     Enrollment, number and percent of students approved for free/reduced-price school meals is used to determine eligibility for the Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Program, the Afterschool Snack Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Snack Program. Note: One worksheet contains a complete list of public schools (0-100%). "Eligible" schools (50% or more students eligible for free/reduced-price meals) are shown on additional worksheets by percentage, by district name and by county.
2009 Reimbursement Rates - Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)  169Kb (2/2/2009)  68Kb (2/2/2009)
     U.S. Department of Agriculture reimbursement rates paid to Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors for meals and snacks served to children.
Comparison of Programs  85Kb (4/30/2008)  89Kb (4/30/2008)
     Seamless summer option requirements compared to Summer Food Service Program requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)  171Kb (3/30/2009)  88Kb (3/30/2009)
     Program questions and answers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Income Eligibility Guidelines - Summer Food Service Program  287Kb (2/10/2009)  905Kb (2/10/2009)
     Household letter, Household Income Statement, and procedures for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meal benefits.
Map of Summer Feeding Sites and Area Eligibility - Minneapolis School District only (summer 2009)  1Mb (5/13/2009)
     Map of Minneapolis School District open summer feeding sites for summer 2009 for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) along with current area eligibility.
Map of Summer Feeding Sites and Area Eligibility - Minnesota County Boundaries (summer 2009)  1Mb (5/13/2009)
     Map of Minnesota open summer feeding sites for summer 2009 for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) along with current area eligibility.
Map of Summer Feeding Sites and Area Eligibility - Minnesota School District Boundaries (summer 2009)  1Mb (5/13/2009)
     Map of Minnesota open summer feeding sites for summer 2009 for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) along with current area eligibility.
Map of Summer Feeding Sites and Area Eligibility - St. Paul School District only (summer 2009)  1Mb (5/13/2009)
     Map of St. Paul School District open summer feeding sites for summer 2009 for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) along with current area eligibility.
Nationwide Expansion of Summer Food Service Program Simplified Cost Accounting Procedures  70Kb (3/5/2009)
     Simplification of cost accounting procedures for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) - January 2008 memo and Q&A.
Video: Summer Meals for Kids - ” What Your Organization Can Do” (11 minute, English) (native) 123Mb (3/1/2006)
     Outreach Tool for the Summer Food Service Program. NOTE: This mpg file requires software (such as Windows Media Player) to view.
Video: Summer Meals for Kids - Alimentos para Ninos Durante el Verano (11 minute, Spanish) (native) 124Mb (3/3/2006)
     Outreach Tool for the Summer Food Service Program. NOTE: This mpg file requires software (such as Windows Media Player) to view.