Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals and snacks to children and teens aged 18 and under during the summer months when school is out of session. Administered at the state level by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and funded through the USDA, the program aims to bridge the nutrition gap and prevent summer hunger in low-income and underserved communities across Michigan.

Eligible program sponsors generally include public or private nonprofit school food authorities, local government entities, and private nonprofit organizations. Meal sites must be located in eligible geographic areas where at least 50 percent of local children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, or operate as eligible summer camps or closed enrolled sites serving low-income youth.

Projects eligible for funding encompass the operation of summer food service sites, including standard congregate feeding locations such as schools, parks, and community centers, as well as allowable rural non-congregate meal service models. Funds support the procurement, preparation, and distribution of healthy meals meeting federal meal pattern requirements, with opportunities to incorporate local foods and farm-to-summer initiatives.

Applicants must complete required MDE program training and submit their application through the state's NexSys Child Nutrition Coordinated Application system. Applications require prospective sponsors to document administrative and financial capability, identify proposed meal sites, outline food safety and civil rights compliance, and obtain state agency approval prior to serving reimbursable meals.