Summer Meals Program Information
The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger provides outreach and technical assistance to communities who would like to become a site sponsor for the summer meal program. More specific questions may be answered by Sarah Kunz, Summer Food Outreach Coordinator.
For more information, you can also visit the website for the Vermont Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs.
Where does the program operate?
Summer Food sponsors may operate OPEN or ENROLLED sites.
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Open sites may be established in areas where school meal application data indicates that 50% or more of children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or where Census data shows that 50% of families have incomes below 185% of poverty. Sponsors are reimbursed for all meals served to children at open sites.
Enrolled sites are ideal for areas that do not meet the 50% open site requirement, but still have large numbers of low-income children. Sponsors of enrolled sites are reimbursed for all meals served to children, as long as records are kept showing that 50% or more of children served have family incomes below 185% of poverty. Sponsors may document individual eligibility by obtaining meal application data from area schools, or by collecting income verification from site children. Camp programs and National Youth Sports Programs may also operate summer food sites, but are reimbursed only for those meals served to children with documented family incomes below 185% of poverty. |
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Who is eligible to get meals?
Children 18 years of age and younger may receive free meals and snacks through the Summer Food Service Program.
How many meals do participants receive each day?
Summer food sponsors may serve lunch, lunch and breakfast, or lunch and snack. Each meal must include the following:
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Snack |
Milk |
Milk |
Select two of the following four components:
Milk
Juice/fruit/vegetable
Meat/meat alternate
Bread/grain |
Juice/fruit/vegetable |
Meat/meat alternate |
Cereal/bread/grain |
Two servings of:
Fruit and/or vegetable |
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Bread/grain |
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How much reimbursement does the government provide?
Per Meal Costs
The Summer Food Service Program can be operated at little or no cost to the sponsors, and is a great benefit to communities by providing summer employment opportunities, bringing in federal dollars, and ensuring that children are healthy and ready to learn. Sponsors may prepare meals themselves or contract with a vendor, and the federal government reimburses sponsors for the administrative and operating costs of each meal served. Most programs are also eligible to receive surplus commodities and food from food banks. The maximum federal per-meal 2007 reimbursement rates are listed below.
2007 Reimbursement Rates Per Meal
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Operating Costs |
Administrative Costs |
Total |
Breakfast |
$1.51 |
$0.15 |
$1.66 |
Lunch/Supper |
$2.64 |
$0.28 |
$2.92 |
Snack |
$0.61 |
$0.08 |
$0.69 |
For more information on federal requirements and reimbursements, visit the USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service website. |
