HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) encourages organizations across the state to help provide nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the summer months through the Department’s Summer Food Service Program. New sponsors must apply by May 1.

“For many students, their only access to healthy, nutritious meals is found at school. We’re calling on organizations across the Commonwealth to join us in combating hunger and helping children receive nutritious meals during the summer months,” said State Director of Child Nutrition Programs Vonda Ramp. “Hunger impacts families across the Commonwealth, creating significant barriers to learning and development, and we’re asking organizations throughout Pennsylvania to help make sure kids have access to the nutritious meals they need to grow, even when school is not in session.”

Last summer, more than 200 organizations provided nutritious meals to children at approximately 1,750 locations throughout the state. However, to reach more children and narrow the hunger gap that summer may bring, more organizations and meal sites are needed throughout the state, especially in rural areas.

Participating organizations are reimbursed for meals served to children who live in areas in which at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program.

Participating organizations must be year-round, not-for-profit entities, which include schools, local, municipal or county governments, libraries, churches, fire and police stations, residential summer camps, and national youth sports programs. Organizations approved to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program are responsible for managing the meal service sites that provide the meals to children. Beginning this summer, organizations serving rural areas may be approved to provide non-congregate meals, such as grab and go meals or delivered meals, to children in qualifying areas.

For more information on becoming a participating organization or a meal site for the summer Food Service Program, view the website at www.education.pa.gov/sfsp or call 800.331.0129.