Now that school is out, summer meals across New England are ramping up!

Summer meals provide an opportunity for children and teens to eat free, nutritious meals when school is out of session. Over the next several weeks our Fuel Up to Play 60 truck will travel throughout the New England region visiting community summer meal sites to offer fun activities for kids and their families. To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), otherwise known as the Summer Meals Program, see more information and photos below!

What is the Summer Food Service Program?

The SFSP is a federally-funded, state-administered program. The SFSP reimburses providers who serve free nutritious meals to children and teens, ages 18 and under, in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session.

How Does It Work?

State agencies are responsible for administering the program with support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Sponsors brought on board by state agencies agree to run the program. These could be schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based, and other non-profit community organizations with a food service program.

Sites are places in the community where children can receive meals in a safe and supervised environment. These could include schools, parks, community centers, health clinics, hospitals, apartment complexes, churches, and migrant centers. In addition to meals, many sites also provide educational and enrichment activities for children and adolescents.

(Adapted from the FRAC SFSP Fact Sheet & the USDA SFSP Fact Sheet)

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who is 18 years old and younger can participate in free summer meals.

Where are Summer Meal Sites?

To locate summer meal sites in or near your community visit our Summer Meals Page.

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Our truck has already made stops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island to help kick off summer meals!

Follow along with us this summer on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram @NewEnglandDairy

Updated 6/27/19