Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

During the school year, more than 40% of K-12 kids in Minnesota are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. However, when the school year ends for the summer, these children may not have access to the nutritious meals they need. The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to all children 18 and under to fill this gap.

Becoming a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program allows you to make a difference in your community by providing free meals to youth, with the option of additionally offering activities and entertainment.

Best Practices & Tips for Sponsors

In an effort to support sponsors, Second Harvest Heartland has compiled a list of resources to facilitate a SFSP sponsorship. Click here to find information on SFSP, creative ways in which previous sponsors have used grant funding, and links to further information on best practices.

Outreach Materials

Second Harvest Heartland has outreach materials available for distribution in to help increase the participation at meal sites in your community. Outreach materials do not have year specific information and can be distributed multiple summers. To download materials, click on the links below.

Small Printable Materials

• Postcards
  • General program information
• Posters
  • General program information
    • English
    • Spanish
    • Hmong
    • Somali
• Lawn Signs
  • “Meals Served Here”
    • English
    • Spanish
    • Hmong
    • Somali

Design Examples for Large Materials

• Banners
  • “Meals Served Here”
    • English only 
    • English/Spanish 
    • English/Hmong 
    • English/Somali 
• Feather flags
  • “Meals Served Here”
    • English only 
    • Spanish only 
    • Hmong only 
    • Somali only 

  SFSP Sponsor Grants

  Each spring, Second Harvest Heartland, in partnership with Share Our Strength offers grants to support SFSP. Our current grant cycle is closed for 2020. Please check back next spring for updates. Other grant information can be found here.

  Summer Food Service Program Meal Finder App

  Hunger Impact Partners has created a Summer Food Service Program Meal Finder App called “Free Meals for Kids.” Click here to learn more about registering your sites on the Summer Eats Minnesota App.

  SFSP Contact Information

  Minnesota

  • Visit Minnesota Department of Education SFSP website

  • Contact the Minnesota Department of Education FNS main customer support line at 651.582.8526 or MN toll-free 800-366-8922 or email at mde.fns@state.mn.us.

  Wisconsin

  • Visit Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction SFSP website.

  • Contact Amy Kolano, SFSP Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at 608.266.7124.