CNOP - Summer Food Service Program Sponsor/Site Information

Boy drinking a glass of milk in a sunny field

Children eating breakfast at a cafeteria table

What is The Summer Food Service Program?

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded program that provides free meals to children, ages 18 and under, when school is not in session. Meals are often provided in conjunction with educational and recreational activities.

What's the latest in the Summer Food Program?

The 2008 summer meal site lists are now available!
- NEW this year! Each community page includes a map of all the sites in that community.
Check out our Summer Brainstorm Newsletter for additional ideas for promoting your summer program.
Read about Simplified Summer-- these administrative changes to the SFSP will make cost accounting for sponsors much easier!
Read about our Better Meals Initiatives.

Download our sample SFSP Outreach Materials and customize them with information specific to your summer program. See below for NEW! outreach materials.
- New! Customize our sample Public Service Announcement (PSA) templates and submit them to your local cable station to promote your summer meals program.
- New! Order our new SFSP brochure with information on the benefits of the summer meals program.
- New! Download, copy, and distribute our two multilingual flyers with information on the SFSP in seven different languages.

Who benefits from the Summer Food Service Program?
Based on national survey results from 2001 to 2003, the USDA’s Economic Research Service estimated that 400,000 people in Massachusetts (6.2% of total residents) lacked access to adequate food. Nearly one third of these individuals regularly experienced hunger.

During the school year, many families stretch their food budget by applying for free or reduced price school meals for their children. Unfortunately, these families often find it difficult to absorb the additional meal costs when school is not in session. Their children may be at risk for hunger and malnutrition and are at a disadvantage when they return to school in September. By providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer, the SFSP ensures that children have access to the food they need in order to return to school ready to learn.

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, please call 617-723-5000 or email cnop@projectbread.org.

©2006 All Rights Reserved Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Child Nutrition Outreach Program
617-723-5000 | cnop@projectbread.org | Project Bread | 145 Border Street, East Boston, MA 02128

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