DC Free Summer Meals Program

Hunger doesn’t take a Summer Break.

During the school year many children receive free and reduced-price  price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast Program (SBP)  and National School Lunch Program (NSLP), but what happens when school lets out?  Hunger is one of the most severe road blocks to the learning process.  A lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance when the next school year begins.    

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), commonly known as the DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP) in the District of Columbia, is designed to fill that nutrition gap.  Through the FSMP, nutritious meals and snacks are served to children age eighteen (18) and younger at no cost. 

Meals are provided to the public by sponsoring organizations and their corresponding feeding sites.  Sponsoring organizations include; public or private non profit local education agencies, entities of state, local or municipal government, residential camps and private non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 status.  Sponsors must apply each year to participate in the program.

Sponsoring organizations must be able to provide managerial oversight of feeding sites, capable staff and food services.   Feeding sites are the physical locations where food is served.  Each feeding site must work with a Sponsoring organization and must apply to that organization each year to participate.  The Sponsoring organization is financially and administratively responsible for the meal service at the sites under its authority. 

Sponsors provide free meals to children at the feeding sites under their authority.  They are then reimbursed for meals served.  Feeding sites are able to offer up to two reimbursable meals per day.  Meals must meet certain nutrition and meal requirements in order to be reimbursable. 

Feeding sites may serve any two of the following meals; breakfast, lunch, supper or snack, however a site may not serve lunch and supper as its two reimbursable meals.  Reimbursement rates for meals are set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) each year. 

OSSE WNS School Programs administers the Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP) for the District of Columbia.

If you would like further information or to speak with someone about the FSMP program, please contact the OSSE WNS office at (202) 727-1839.

Information can also be found on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) website. 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy,  institutions participating in these programs are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

If you require this information in an alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice or TDD).

If you require information about this program, activity, or facility in a language other than English, contact the USDA agency responsible for the program or activity, or any USDA office.

To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call, toll free, (866) 632-9992 (Voice).  TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Also, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act approved December 13, 1977 (DC Law 2-38; DC Official Code §2-1402.11(2006), as amended) States the following:

Pertinent section of DC Code § 2-1402.11:
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice to do any of the following acts, wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason based upon the actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of any individual. To file a complaint alleging discrimination on one of these bases, please contact the District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights at (202) 727-3545.