The New York State Education Department (NYSED) encourages public and nonpublic nonprofit school food authorities; local, county, municipal, and state governmental entities; Indian tribal territories, migrant programs; nonprofit agencies; faith-based organizations and camps interested in providing healthy meals to children this summer to participate in the United State Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

The SFSP was established to ensure that low-income children, 18 and younger, continue to receive nutritious meals when schools are not in session. Through the SFSP, meals are provided in safe and supervised community locations such as at schools, parks, community centers, health clinics, hospitals, apartment complexes, churches, and migrant centers.

SFSP sponsors receive federal and State reimbursement for each meal served to a child or teen, according to predetermined reimbursement rates set by USDA and the State. Sponsors are organizations that are fully capable of managing a food service program and agree and assure to serve meals to any eligible child in accordance with Federal Law, USDA policy, guidance and instructions including federal civil rights laws, regulations, and policies. A site is the physical location, approved by NYSED, where SFSP meals are served during a supervised time period. Information on site types and eligibility can be found in USDA's SFSP Administrative Guide.

This year, the SFSP will operate throughout New York State from June 27 through September 5, 2022. Please note that at this time the current waiver flexibilities provided to SFAs operating the Seamless Summer Option during the 2021-2022 school year to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have not currently been extended to summer 2022 SFSP operations.

NYSED will hold mandatory sponsor training webinars in April for sponsors planning to participate in summer 2022.

Potential new sponsors may request a sponsor application and obtain additional information on NYSED’s SFSP website or by contacting the New York State Education Department, Child Nutrition Program Administration, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 486-1086. Email is also available at cnsfsp@nysed.gov.