Summer Food Service Programs Announced

USDA summer meals program provides nutritious, free meals across Minnesota

ROSEVILLE, MN – The Minnesota Department of Education is proud to support the over 200 schools and community organizations that will provide meals and snacks at almost 1,000 meal sites across Minnesota this summer.  For families who depend on school meals to nourish their children during the school year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program helps close the nutrition gap and supports academic achievement by providing access to healthy meals so students can return in the fall ready to learn.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federal nutrition program funded by the USDA and administered by the Minnesota Department of Education. In 2018, more than 3.4 million meals were served to Minnesota children through the SFSP, yet efforts only reached about 19 percent of the children who depend on school meals during the school year.

“The Summer Food Service Program helps our families by providing free meals and snacks to Minnesota students from June to August,” said Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker. “Thank you to our community partners for working together to support our students and their families during the summer months to find additional nutritional meals and snacks.”

Find summer meal sites near you by using these resources:

• Download the free Summer Eats Minnesota app in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store or visit the Summer Eats MN website. This mobile app shows Minnesota kids where they can find no-cost meals this summer.

• Visit the Summer Meal Site Locator tool released by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• Call the 2-1-1 Hotline, or, from your mobile phone in the Twin Cities metro area, call 651-291-0211. In greater Minnesota, call 1-800-543-7709, or TTY at 651-291-8440.

• Call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151 or visit the Hunger Solutions website and fill out a form reporting your food needs. The HelpLine hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Text "food" to 877-877.
• View the SFSP Participation Report to find a list of all Summer Food sites. 
• To learn more, please visit the Summer Food Service Program website or contact MDE Food and Nutrition Services (mde.fns@state.mn.us), or call at 651-582-8526 or 1-800-366-8922 (toll-free). 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. View USDA’s nondiscrimination statement.

Contact Wendy Hatch at wendy.hatch@state.mn.us, 651-582-8717 with any questions. 

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