Summer Food Service Program

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established requirements for SFAs conducting outreach for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).  SFAs may distribute information through means normally used to communicate with households of enrolled children. Acceptable outreach activities may include developing and distributing printed and electronic materials that provide information on the availability and location of summer meals to families of school children prior to the end of the school year.  Here are some outreach strategies for you:

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture for Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to provide non-congregate meal service at certain Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) outdoor meal sites on days when the area is experiencing excessive heat.  The flexibility will allow Program operators to safely provide meals to Program participants during times of excessive heat.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Summer Food Service Program Sponsors, in good standing, to operate approved outdoor meal sites without alternative indoor sites as non-congregate sites on days when the area is experiencing certain air quality advisories.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has received State-level waiver authority from the United States Department of Agriculture for non-school food authority Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to utilize Offer versus Serve (OVS) during the 2025 SFSP. OVS allows children to decline some of the foods offered in a reimbursable breakfast, lunch, or supper.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has requested the following waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS):

1. Waiver to allow Offer versus Serve using the SFSP Meal Pattern for all sponsoring organizations (statutory and regulatory requirements rescinded in SP 10-2017, SFSP 06-2017.)

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsors that operated the SFSP in 2024 must complete the SFSP Renewal on the Child Nutrition Management System (CNMS). The renewal is now available, and it is expected that all experienced sponsors will log in and submit the renewal on-line and send any additional required information via email to their program representative. Your program representative is available to assist you with this process. 

No Kid Hungry Summer Grant Opportunity Now Open!

A key part of No Kid Hungry's work is to expand access to and participation in summer meals programs. This summer, our summer grant opportunity will support the expansion of non-congregate summer feeding models (grab-n-go meals, home-delivered meals and/or parent/caregiver pick-up) by providing funding to sponsors operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in rural communities.

The New York State Education Department (SED), Office of Child Nutrition Program Administration, will host multiple training sessions to provide guidance on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for returning Summer Food Service Program sponsors and potential new sponsors.

Serving kid-friendly, high-quality meals is a key strategy for attracting children to summer meals sites and encouraging participation all summer long. Join FRAC to hear from speakers about developing strong menus, as well as opportunities to boost quality and appeal.