Help Bridge the Nutrition Gap This Summer: Be a Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

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During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. However, what happens when school lets out? Hunger is one of the most significant roadblocks to the learning process, and it may make children more prone to illness and other health issues. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again.

Neighborhood Networks centers can bridge the nutrition gap and help youth get the nutritious meals they need to have a fun, healthy, and enriching summer by serving as a much-needed feeding site for the USDA's SFSP.

What Is an SFSP Feeding Site?

The Summer Food Service Program reaches only a fraction of the children in need. The primary reason for the limited access to the program is that there are not enough SFSP feeding sites. A feeding site is the physical location, approved by the state SFSP agency, where SFSP meals are delivered and served during a supervised time period. States classify and approve various types of SFSP meal sites, including:

	Open sites, which operate in low-income areas where at least 50 percent of children residing in the area are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, based on local school or census data. The meals are served free to any child at the site on a first-come, first-serve basis.
	Closed enrolled sites, which are established for a specific group of children who enroll in an organized activity program or do not reside in an eligible low-income area. The site becomes eligible for SFSP if at least half of the enrolled children qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Because the site is not open to the community, meals are served free only to enrolled children.
	Camps, which are sites that offer regularly scheduled food service along with organized activities for enrolled residential or day campers. The camp receives reimbursement only for meals served to enrolled children who qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

How Do Neighborhood Networks Centers Become SFSP Feeding Sites?

Based on the above criteria, Neighborhood Networks centers are excellent candidates to become SFSP feeding sites. The USDA's SFSP Web page contains detailed information on how your center can participate, including state agency contacts and tips for managing a summer food program. State application deadlines are quickly approaching, so do not wait. Reach out to your local SFSP agency today to learn how your center can help youth have a fun and nutritious summer.