Summer Food Service Program Looking for Local Sites

Too many children who rely on school meals do not have access to meals in the summer. Are there children in your community who will go hungry this summer? DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs (DEED/CNP) is looking for school districts, parks and recreation departments, non-profit organizations, and churches to operate Summer Food Service Program feeding sites for children and youth in low-income areas in Alaska.

Purpose - The SFSP was established to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free meals that meet Federal nutrition guidelines are provided to all children at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.

Eligibility Criteria – A sponsoring organization must be a public or private non-profit school food authority (SFA); a public or private non-profit college or university; a public or private non-profit residential summer camp; a unit of local, county, municipal, State, or Federal Government; or any other type of private non-profit organization. All sponsors must be tax exempt and demonstrate the administrative and financial ability to manage a food service effectively. Most sponsors must provide a year-round public service to the area in which they intend to provide the SFSP.

Schools do not need to have an accredited summer school program to sponsor SFSP. School districts are well positioned to provide meals that complement learning and recreation opportunities for children and earn money for the school food service account. A school may:

• Serve as a sponsor and prepare its own meals
• Serve as a sponsor and purchase meals from a vendor
• Host a site for another sponsor, or
• Serve as a vendor for another sponsor

Availability – The DEED/CNP invites any eligible sponsoring organization to participate in the 2021 SFSP and the SFSP is available to implement statewide.  Sponsors located in rural areas and Alaska Native tribes are encouraged to apply.

All sponsors receive training and technical assistance from DEED/CNP prior to starting their Summer Food Service Program, and throughout the program’s duration. Completed applications are due by April 15, 2021. For questions or to register for training contact jennifer.cherian@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4969.

• Distance Delivery for All New and Returning Sponsors:

March 31^st, 2021              8:30 AM to 4:30PM

• Distance Delivery for New and Returning School Food Authorities Only

April 1^st, 2021    1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

School districts may attend either training and are not required to attend both sessions.

Non-school district sponsors must attend the March 31^st session.

Distance-delivery login, dial in information and training materials will be sent via email to all registered participants prior to training dates.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.