Summer Food Service Program: How it Works

COVID made a huge impact on child food insecurity throughout Georgia. Perhaps you’ve seen families in your own community waiting in historically long lines to pick up food for their children at meal sites, food banks, schools and churches. 

Research conducted by Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, estimates that among the total population of Georgia’s children, child food insecurity has increased by a staggering 39 percent   since 2018. (Click here to see the child food insecurity rate in your county).

With many parents out of work, more children may be facing hunger in the months ahead – especially when schools close for summer vacation and already tight family food budgets have to be stretched even further.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): A solution to end child hunger

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) fills the hunger gap by serving nutritious meals to children 18 years and younger while school is not in session. The program is funded by the USDA, administered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and run by organizations such as local government, nonprofit organizations, parks and recreation services, libraries, schools, camps and churches. 

Find out how the SFSP works: Watch SFSP Summit recording here

If you would like to learn more about the program, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning invites you to watch a recording of the Virtual Summer Food Service Summit. You will learn how the Summer Food Service Program operates and the requirements of becoming a sponsoring organization. At min. 37:02, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal GA’s “KidsCafe” video does not play in the recording. You can view the video by clicking here.

In the Summit recording, you will learn about:

• How the Summer Food Service Program Operates
• The difference between a Sponsor and a Meal Site
• How to apply to be a Sponsor for the Summer Food Service Program
• Answers to commonly asked questions about applying to participate in the program
• Best practices from our Experienced SFSP Sponsors.

Questions?

Contact Cindy Kicklighter at 678.841.3170 or Gaby Garza at 470.542.7376