Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) Child Nutrition Programs is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program, also known as Summer Meals, is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by AOE Child Nutrition Programs. Funds are available and sponsors are needed to provide meals to children at summer food program sites. The After School and Summer Meals Eligibility Mapper helps identify potential meal site locations. The state is specifically seeking sponsors to serve meals in previously underserved areas, including the Northeast Kingdom, Rutland County, and the Upper Valley.
Sponsors can be supervisory unions or school districts, private non-profit organizations, government entities, or non-profit residential camps. Sponsors are reimbursed at a set rate based on the number of meals served to children. Sites, where meals are distributed, could include schools, parks, housing complexes, or libraries. Program regulations particularly encourage recruitment of sponsors of sites in rural areas and areas with a concentration of migrant farm workers. Sponsors often have more than one site. Non-profit organizations and local governments interested in offering meals are encouraged to inquire even if they are unable to prepare the meals themselves. The Agency can help connect these organizations with school districts that can prepare summer meals.
The program includes several types of sites. “Open” sites are where any child, 18 and under, can receive a meal. “Closed-Enrolled" sites serve specific groups of children. If operating a closed-enrolled site, sponsors must provide reasonable justification for not serving the broader community at that site. Both open and closed-enrolled sites may serve up to two meals or snacks to each child per day. Congregate meal sites are a great opportunity to offer enrichment programming, through programs such as 21st Century or Act 78 Summer Learning Programs. Per 16 V.S.A. § 1264, public schools that had at least 50% of students approved for free and reduced meals in the preceding school year and provide 15 hours or more of programming per week during the summer are required to provide a snack or meal to accompany that programming.
In rural areas with no congregate meal service, sites can offer non-congregate meals via grab and go or delivery. Sponsors have the option to allow parents/guardians to pick up meals on behalf of children, without the children present. Self-operated sponsors may offer bulk, grocery-style meal kits containing up to 10 days of food or multi-day, unitized meals. Sponsors contracting with a Food Service Management Company may only offer multi-day, unitized meals.
Camp sites may provide three meals or snacks per day and must use individual child data to determine eligibility. Children who are members of households that receive 3SquaresVT or Reach Up benefits or meet the income eligibility guidelines are automatically eligible to receive free meals at camp sites. Meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, or disability.
For more information, please refer to the SFSP New Sponsor Overview and Non-Profits in the SFSP, or contact the Vermont Agency of Education at (802)-595-0963.
1.30.2026. Montpelier, VT. – Vermont Agency of Education
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