The California Department of Education is looking for sites, sponsors, and students to sign up for this year's USDA Summer Food Service Program.

This federally-funded program reimburses sponsor organizations for administrative and operational costs for providing meals to children aged 18 years old or younger, during times when they are out of school for more than fifteen consecutive days.

Many children in rural California participate in Free and Reduced Price Lunch when they are in school – but when school is not in session, they do not receive adequate nutrition.

Summer Meal Service Sites and Sponsors help to provide food to kids in need during that time.

You can help by becoming a sponsor organization or by identifying a new meal site for an existing sponsor in your area. You can also connect kids to existing sites this summer.

Applications to be a sponsor are due June 1, 2016.

Eligible sponsor organizations include both private and public nonprofits. Meal Sites can be open to any child, open only to enrolled children, or operated only for day and residential camps. 

Visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/summersites15.asp for a list of existing Summer Meal Service Sites and Sponsors.

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, visit their California Department of Education Web site.

If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact Larry Frakes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 916-322-8323 for a 10-minute pre-screening. You may also email the Summer Food Service Program team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .