Interactive Map Helps Families Find Summer Food Program Locations

Families have an online tool to help them locate their local Summer Food Service Program locations. The Utah State Office of Education Child Nutrition Programs, has developed an online interactive map, listing the locations and service dates and times for programs throughout Utah. Each year as summer approaches, the USOE Child Nutrition section is flooded with calls from families wanting specific information about the Summer Food Service Program. The goal of creating the interactive map is to more efficiently help these families locate sites and to create more awareness of the program.

The Summer Food Service Program is designed to offer nutritionally balanced, high quality meals to children during summer vacations, interim, and off-track periods. The program is particularly targeted to low-income children who may not have adequate nutrition when schools are not in session.

USOE Child Nutrition Programs Specialist Dana Adams says the Summer Food Service Program is about food that’s in, while school is out.

“Parents, summer is coming soon and you may be thinking about what your child will do for meals while school is out,” she says. “The good news is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners in your local community to serve free meals. There are no income requirements, and any child under age 18 may come to eat. All you have to do is show up.”

Click here to find a 2012 Summer Food Program site near you.

The SFSP provides meals to children 18 years and younger at approved sponsored sites. These meals must meet the same nutritional standards as the other Child Nutrition Programs. Meals served include breakfast, lunch, supplements, and supper depending on the type of service site. Up to three meals per child per day may be reimbursed.

A program sponsor may be any of the following types of organizations and may provide the program in one or more places:

• A public or private nonprofit School Food Authority;
• A public or private nonprofit residential summer camp;
• A unit of local (municipal or county) government; or
• A private nonprofit organization that regularly serves the public.

Private nonprofit organizations may only sponsor the SFSP in areas where a School Food Authority or local government will not do so. Sponsors may operate several types of facilities including open sites, enrolled sites, homeless feeding sites, residential summer camps, and nonresidential summer camps. For additional information regarding program availability and site locations, contact the local school district.

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