If your agency or organization is one of the following, you may be eligible to sponsor a program:

• Public or private nonprofit school food authority
• Public or private nonprofit residential summer camp (including the Upward Bound Program)
• State, local, municipal or county government entity
• Public or private nonprofit college or university participating in the National Youth Sports Program
• Other private, nonprofit organizations

As a sponsor, your organization or agency is responsible for the total management of the program.

Sponsor Responsibilities Include:

• Documenting site need
• Locating sites in eligible areas
• Securing administrative and site staff
• Accepting final financial and administrative control
• Preparing or purchasing meals
• Keeping program records and receipts

Here's How to Apply

1. Complete the self-assessment - Is SFSP For Me? (PDF, 370 KB)
2. Sign up for one of the 1-1/2 day SFSP Potential Sponsor Trainings.
3. At training, you will learn how to participate successfully in the SFSP.

A Site is the physical location of where the program meals are served. Sites operate under an approved sponsoring organization.

Types of Sites:

• Open
  • At least half the children in the area are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals based on area eligibility data from the local school or census block group.
• Enrolled
  • At least half the children enrolled in the program are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals based on income eligibility statements describing the family’s size and income or the site is located in an needy area.
• Camp
  • Offers a regularly scheduled food service as part of a residential or day camp program. Eligibility is based on an individual child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.
• Migrant
  • Primarily serves children of migrant workers. Eligibility is based on appropriate certification from a migrant organization.
• NYSP
  • A college or university participating in the National Youth Sports Program. Eligibility is based on a child’s enrollment in the NYSP.
• Upward Bound
  • A college, university or local government agency participating in the Upward Bound Program. Eligibility is based on a child’s enrollment in the Upward Bound Program.
• Year-Round Sites
  • A site in which all or part of the student body of a schools is on vacation for periods of 15 continuous school days or more during October through April and in attendance at regular scheduled classes during most of May through September.

Age Requirements:

The following children may receive free meals:

• All children 18 years or younger who come to an approved open site or to an eligible enrolled site
• At camps, only the children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals may receive SFSP meals
• A person 19 years of age and over who is determined by a State or local educational agency to have a mental or physical disability, and who participates during the school year in a public or private nonprofit school program established for the mentally or physically disabled

Site Responsibilities Include:

• Designating a site supervisor
• Operating under the supervision of an approved sponsor
• Attending site training conducted by the sponsor
• Being responsible for daily record keeping
• Distributing meals according to program guidelines

Feeding hungry children is a community effort. Many sponsoring agencies are looking for additional resources when operating the program. You or your organization can get involved by volunteering to be a Summer Food Service Program site supervisor, program monitor, and cook or food delivery person.