The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), known in Washington, DC as the DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP), provides reimbursement for free, nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 an younger. These meals help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.
When school is out, the meals served as a part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are not available, and due to families' limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The FSMP fills this gap and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars and by knowing that their children are receiving healthy meals in a supportive environment.
The Free Summer Meals Program served 1,483,120 meals to children and youth in the District of Columbia in Summer 2008.
For information, contact Christi Dorsey, Program Specialist for the Free Summer Meals Program at the Office of State Superintendent of Education, Wellness and Nutrition Services Department, 51 N Street, NE, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 654-6116 or email at wellness.nutrition@dc.gov.
