What is SFSP?
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program, is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to provide FREE meals over the summer to kids 18 and under. At meal sites, children can receive a healthy meal in a safe place.
There are open sites and closed sites for free meals. Open sites are meal sites where anyone age 18 and under can get a free meal. There is no fee, no sign-up, and no proof of identity or legal status required. You just walk in and grab a meal! Closed sites are meal sites that require sign-up and sometimes require a small fee to participate throughout the summer. These can include summer camps or other programming that require registration.
Why do we need the Summer Meals Program? Summer can be the hungriest time of the year for kids and the most expensive time for parents. Kids and parents who rely on free or reduced–price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) no longer have access to these meals when school is out for the summer.
SUMMER MEALS DURING COVID-19
All summer meal sites are encouraged to follow local guidance to ensure the health and safety of all program participants and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals sites may have different processes to protect individuals, including but not limited to: drive thru food distribution, grab and go meals, allowance of parent pick-up, and distribution of food for multiple days at a time.
To find a site near you, call (800) 359-2163, or text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304. Call the site for details on requirements and safety measures being implemented.
Keep up-to-date on success stories and other Summer Meals information by following us on Facebook: SummerMealsIllinois or Twitter: @SummerMealsIL.
We hope to see you at a Summer Meals site this summer!
