State Superintendent of Education: DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP)

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), known in Washington, D.C. as the DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP), provides reimbursement for free, nutritious meals and snacks served to children 18 and younger. These meals help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.

When school is out, the meals served as a part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are not available, and due to families' limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The FSMP fills this gap and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars and by knowing that their children are receiving healthy meals in a supportive environment.

Sponsoring organizations benefit from the FSMP by receiving funds to provide meals that complement recreational and educational programs that they have already planned. Site organizations benefit from the FSMP by receiving wholesome meals directly from their sponsor each day in operation. Providing meals during the summer through the FSMP not only addresses children's nutritional needs, but it also draws children into supervised activities that are safe, fun, and filled with learning opportunities at diverse sites such as schools, camps, churches and community centers.

To participate in the FSMP as a sponsor, institutions must be fully capable of managing a food service program. Sponsors must follow all state and federal regulations, and be financially and administratively responsible for running a summer program. Institutions that are eligible to sponsor FSMP include public or private nonprofit schools; units of local, municipal, county, tribal, or state government; private nonprofit organizations; faith-based organizations, public or private nonprofit camps and public or private nonprofit universities or colleges.

A sponsored site organization is the physical location, approved by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Nutrition Services Department, where you serve FSMP meals during a supervised time period. There are five types of sites: open, enrolled, camp, migrant, and National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) sites. Open sites operate in low-income areas where at least half of the children come from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, making them eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Enrolled sites provide free meals to children enrolled in an activity program at the site where at least half of them are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Camps receive payments only for the meals served to children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Migrant sites primarily serves free meals to children of migrant workers. NYSP sites provide meals to children participating in the National Youth Sports Program at a college or university.

Locally, FSMP is run by approved sponsors, including school districts, local government agencies, religious organizations, camps, or private nonprofit organizations. Sponsors provide free meals to a group of children at a central site, such as a school or a community center. They receive payments from USDA, through Nutrition Services, for the meals they serve and for their documented operating costs. Some of the records that must be kept are:

FSMP meals are planned to include foods from the Food Guide Pyramid. Meals can be simple or more elaborate. Participating organizations must serve meals that fulfill the USDA meal pattern requirement.

Reimbursement is provided for up to two meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or supper) and a snack per day per enrollee. This monetary supplement can help balance your meal service costs.

Children 18 and younger may receive free meals and snacks through FSMP. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled.

Sponsoring organizations also receive Federal funds for administrative costs. Depending on the type of site (self-preparation or vended), sponsors can receive a maximum of up to:

Nutrition Services program specialists are available to provide institutions with free technical assistance on how to operate a Free Summer Meals Program. Training is available on such topics as menu planning, proper food storage and preparation, record keeping and reporting, and clarifying federal and local regulations.

For information on the Free Summer Meals Program, contact the District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Nutrition Services Department, 441 4th Street NW, Suite 350N, Washington, DC 20001; 202-727-6436.