The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) Child Nutrition Programs is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program, also known as Summer Meals, is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by AOE Child Nutrition Programs. Funds are available and sponsors are needed to provide meals to children at summer food program sites.
This program bridges the gap between school years, giving children ages 18 and under the fuel they need to play and grow throughout the summer months and return to school ready to learn.
“Nutrition is crucial to growth, development and learning,” said Secretary of Education Dan French. “Even before the Covid-19 pandemic many of our students and families relied on school meals to meet their nutritional needs. Summer poses an especially difficult time for our low-income families when it comes to food access. Now more than ever, as we focus on education recovery, it is imperative that students have access to nutritious meals during the summer to ensure their ability to grow as learners both mentally and physically.”
The AOE is specifically seeking to onboard non-profit organizations to sponsor the program throughout the upcoming summer. Vermont school food service programs have worked tirelessly to continue providing meals to children throughout the pandemic. To reduce the burden on schools while maintaining access to nutritious meals, non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply to participate in the program to continue providing this service to communities throughout the state over summer 2023. Non-profit organizations interested in partnering with schools to operate summer meal sites are also encouraged to participate. Interested organizations should contact Jamie Curley.
The AOE enters into an agreement with sponsors to provide meals to children at their sites. Sponsors can be supervisory unions or school districts, private non-profit organizations, government entities, and non-profit residential camps. Sponsors are reimbursed on a per meal basis for meals served to children. Sites are the physical location where meals are served. Examples of sites include schools, parks, housing complexes, and libraries. Sponsors often have more than one site.
“Open” sites are where any child, 18 and under, can eat a meal, no questions asked. Closed-enrolled sites serve meals to a set population of children. Open and closed-enrolled sites may serve up to two meals or snacks each day. Camp sites may provide three meals or snacks a day and must use individual child data to determine eligibility. Children who are members of households that receive 3SquaresVT or Reach Up benefits or meet the income guidelines are automatically eligible to receive free meals at camp sites.
For more information, please refer to the SFSP New Sponsor Overview or contact the Vermont Agency of Education at (802)-828-2010.
Non-Discrimination Statement:
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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, 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.