Program Details
Hunger doesn’t take a summer break.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), known in Washington, DC as the DC Summer Meals Program, provides reimbursement for free nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and 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 to all students, and due to families' limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The Summer Food Service Program was established to fill this hunger gap and ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Since 2012, more than 6.6 million summer meals have been served through the DC Summer Meals Program to children and youth in the District of Columbia. Sponsoring organizations included:
- Public and private local education agencies;
- Entities of state, local, and municipal government;
- Public and private non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; and
- Non-profit residential and non-residential camps
DC Youth Meals Program Information Sessions Announcement
The DC Youth Meals Program is recruiting organizations and programs to operate no-cost meal sites in Summer 2022. We are hosting a series of information sessions starting on January 26, 2022. There are four opportunities to join a brief information session offered online for potential new DC Youth Meals Program sites and sponsors.
A general overview of the program will be provided by OSSE summer meals staff, and DC Hunger Solutions. Those who attend will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive detailed information on program participation.
Information sessions will be held on the following dates:
- SFSP information session #1 - Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
- Registration for this session has closed.
- SFSP information session #2 - Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 (2 - 3 p.m.)
- SFSP information session #3 - Thursday, March 31, 2022 (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
- SFSP information session #4 - Thursday, April 28, 2022 (2 - 3 p.m.)
If you have additional questions, please email Nicole King (SFSP Nutrition Specialist) at [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider. Visit the USDA website to view the USDA’s nondiscrimination statement.
2022 Summer Food Service Program Rates of Reimbursement
Reimbursement rate for meals served at rural/self-preparation sites:
- Breakfast: $2.6050
- Lunch or Supper: $4.5625
- Supplement (snack): $1.0775
Reimbursement rate for meals served at all other type of sites:
- Breakfast: $2.550
- Lunch or Supper: $4.4875
- Supplement (snack): $1.0525
Resources
- Sponsors and Sites Needed for the 2021 DC Free Summer Meals Program
- Application, Supplemental and Program Operation Information
- Summer Meals Sponsor Outreach Materials
- Training and Events
- Find a Summer Meal Site
- USDA Summer Food Service Program Site
- DC Hunger Solutions
- DC Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Public Notification – Summer Food Service Program Waiver Requests
- USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (English)
- USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (Español)