The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is looking for financially viable organizations that can serve meals to children during the summer months. Organizations that participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will be reimbursed by VDH for the meals that are served. Participating sponsors will also be reimbursed for certain allowable administrative costs associated with serving the meals. In addition, all participating organizations receive technical assistance from VDH staff. All participating sponsors are required to attend the SFSP State agency training provided by VDH. Training dates will be publicized on VDH’s SFSP website and on the CHAAMPS homepage when finalized.
Virginia’s children need and deserve nutritious meals continuously throughout the year to maintain healthy minds and bodies. Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to an individual’s learning process. Lack of access to nutritional meals during the summer sets the stage for a student’s poor performance once the next school year begins. Remember, childhood hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation. The SFSP fills the nutrition gap when school’s out and children do not have access to the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs.
Virginia’s SFSP operates in schools, public housing centers, community centers, playgrounds, camps, parks and churches. Sponsors that may qualify for this program include: public or private nonprofit schools; local, municipal, county, state or Federal governments; public or private nonprofit residential summer camps; and private nonprofit organizations including faith- or community-based organizations.
Organizations interested in obtaining more information about the Summer Food Service Program or in requesting an application to participate should call VDH at 1-804-864-7800 or visit the SFSP website. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also offering a series offree webinars for organizations and individuals interested in participating in the SFSP.
If becoming a sponsor is not a good fit, but an organization is interested in feeding children in a specific area during the summer months, please consider partnering with an existing sponsor and participating as a meal site under that sponsor. In that case, please call the number above and ask for a list of existing sponsors in your area that may be able to add your organization as a meal location.
Deadline to apply for this year’s Summer Food Service Program is April 14th for sponsors requesting a June advance; May 12th for sponsors requesting a July advance; June 16th for sponsors requesting an August advance; 30 days prior to operation for all sponsors. Applications cannot be accepted after June 15, 2017.
-Submitted by Courtney Jones
