Food and Nutrition Programs

Notification to the Community on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) is announcing the availability of summer meal sites providing meals to children, 18 and under, through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The SFSP is designed to bridge the gap between school years, ensuring that children and teens have access to fresh, healthy meals in their communities.

In Summer 2023, 117 sponsors served 2.7 million meals and snacks at over 1,100 sites throughout the state. Meals are served in many locations, including schools, community centers, parks, housing complexes, and libraries. Families can find information on meal sites near them by using the Meal Site Finder resource from Project Bread, available here: Summer Eats | Free Meals for Kids and Teens in MA.

Summer meals are served at "open," "closed-enrolled" and summer camp sites. Open sites are accessible to any child, 18 years and under, who wishes to have a meal. Closed-enrolled and camp sites cater to specific populations. Both open and closed-enrolled sites may offer up to two meals or snacks per day, while camp sites can provide three meals or snacks daily.

Closed-enrolled sites in eligible areas may provide free meals to all enrolled children. Area eligibility is determined based on the number of free and reduced-price meal students enrolled in a school or living in a community. Closed enrolled programs in non area-eligible locations may qualify for the SFSP if at least half of enrolled participants meet the SFSP Income Eligibility Standards. Camps may only claim for any enrolled child(ren) who meet(s) the SFSP Income Eligibility Standards.

In addition to children 18 and under, persons over 18 years of age who are determined by a State educational agency or a local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or nonprofit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled are also eligible to receive summer meals. Meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, or disability.

For further information on the SFSP, go to: Summer Food Service Program. If interested in becoming a sponsor or learning more about sponsored programs near you, contact MA DESE's Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA, 02149).

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: USDA Discrimination Complaint Form , from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.