VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

"No nation is any healthier than its children" - President Harry S. Truman

Summer can be the hungriest time of year and Summer Meals programs are the remedy. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered congregate meal program. SFSP reimburses eligible providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session.

According to No Kid Hungry, 43% of low-income families say it's harder to make ends meet during the summer. Yet, approximately 21.1 million children in the U.S. eat free and reduced-price meals during the school year, but only 1 in 6 of those children receive meals through USDA's summer meal programs. In Virginia, on average, only 15% of kids who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches are also getting free meals in the summer through the SFSP.

You can be the change by filling gaps and providing free meals to children who may not otherwise get those meals.

How to participate

If you are interested in becoming a SFSP meal site, email sfsp@dss.virginia.gov. To learn more about becoming a SFSP sponsor through the Department of Education click here.

Training

• Training Slide Deck (all parts) (PDF)
• Training Webinar Pt. I (MP4)
• Training Webinar Pt. II (MP4)
• Training Webinar Pt. III (MP4)
• Training Test & Survey

Forms

• Daily Meal Count Form (PDF)
• Delivery Receipt (PDF)
• Monthly Meal Count Form (PDF)
• Site Application (PDF)
• Site/ Sponsor Agreement (PDF)
• Time Sheet (PDF)
• Weekly Meal Count Form (PDF)

Resources

• Site Supervisor Resources
• Do’s and Don’ts For Site Supervisors (PDF)
• SFSP Accurate Meal Counting and Claiming (PDF)
• SFSP Site Supervisor Guide (PDF)
• Site Supervisor's Pocket Reference Guide (PDF)
• USDA Summer Food Service Program website
• USDA Summer Meals Toolkit
• Nutrition
• Let’s Move Campaign
• SFSP Nutrition Guidance (PDF)
• USDA Team Nutrition Resources A to Z
• Enrichment Activity
• Creative Kids at Home (art and science)
• Educational Worksheets
• Fun Attic Great Game List
• Partnering Organizations
• FRAC
• No Kid Hungry
• Webinars
• Engaging Youth Volunteers in Summer Meals
• Make Your Summer Meals Site the Talk of the Town
• Mastering the Summer for New Sites & Sponsors
• Read and Feed: Feeding Young Minds and Bodies During the Summer
• Summer Meals: SFSP 101 and How to Be a Summer Meals Champion

Find a site

• Click here to find summer meals in your community on the USDA's site.
• Text FOOD to 877-877

Contact Us

• Email: SFSP@dss.virginia.gov