Department of Education seeking sponsors for Summer Food Service for low-income children

The South Dakota Department of Education’s division of Child and Adult Nutrition Services is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

Many South Dakota children receive free and reduced-price meals through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, but these programs are not available during the summer months when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program fills this gap by providing free, nutritious summer meals to children at approved sites in areas with high concentrations of low-income children.

Community organizations, nonprofits, schools, and tribal and local governments can apply to be sponsors if they operate in low-income areas, serve a group of mostly low-income children, or operate a summer camp with a high proportion of low-income participants. Parks and recreation departments, city and county health departments, libraries, and neighborhood service agencies can also participate as sites or sponsors.

Sponsorships are available statewide, with especially high need for new sponsors in Lake and McCook, counties

Organizations interested in reviewing sponsor responsibilities and serving meals during the summer of  2025 are invited to use the Summer Food Service Program pre-screen tool.