Summer Food Service Program
Program Description
The Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas. The program helps children get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow, throughout the summer months and grow during other long periods when they are out of school.General Program Requirements
All children and youth (age 18 and under) who come to an approved food service site are eligible to receive free meals. Sites serving adults who are enrolled in educational programs for persons with disabilities may also be eligible to participate in the Summer Food Service Program. Sites must either be located in low-income communities or serve primarily low-income children. At certain sites, such as residential camps, benefits are available only to children whose families meet the income standard for free or reduced-price meals. Children qualify to receive free or low-cost meals while they attend school (high school and under) if their families' household incomes meet the current income eligibility guidelines.Children who participate in certain other programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and children who are migrant, runaway, or homeless are automatically eligible for free meals. You can find out what the maximum income limits for eligibility are at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/notices/iegs/IEGs.htm.
