Press Releases
01/31/2020
State Department of Education Seeking Applications for Sponsors for Summer Meals Program
Sponsoring Organizations Help Provide Nutritious Meals to Connecticut’s Children
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is now accepting applications from organizations interested in providing meals through the 2020 Summer Food Service Program. Last year, the program provided more than $1.77 million meals to over 37,000 children aged 18 years and younger at 656 locations statewide.
The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and serves as the summer extension of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, in order to provide meals for children during summer when families do not have access to school meals. Local Summer Food Service Program sponsors may include public or private nonprofit school food authorities; state, local, municipal or county governments; residential public or private nonprofit summer camps; public or private nonprofit colleges or universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program; and private nonprofit organizations. Any one of these groups or organizations able to verify that at least half the children in their potential service area qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may apply to be a sponsor.
The CSDE has identified several communities with neighborhoods eligible to host a Summer Food Service Program site. Eligible neighborhoods are those where at least 50 percent or more of the income levels of families in the area are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Additional qualified local organizations are especially needed in these municipalities: Bristol, Chaplin, East Windsor, Enfield, Fairfield, Griswold, Plymouth, Shelton, Sprague, Stonington, and Wallingford.
All sponsors must agree to serve meals to any eligible child regardless of his or her race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Summer Food Service Program sponsors are reimbursed according to predetermined U.S. Department of Agriculture reimbursement rates. Meals must comply with federal nutrition standards. Applications for program participation and further information are available through the Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education, 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 504, Hartford, CT 06103. Additional information on the Summer Food Service Program can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Nutrition/Summer-Food-Service-Program.
Individuals looking to access summer meals can look for Summer Meal Locations as the school year ends by contacting 2-1-1 Connecticut or End Hunger CT!'s Summer Meals Site Finder at www.CTSummerMeals.org.
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Applicant Contact: Caroline Cooke
Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education
Connecticut State Department of Education
Phone: 860-807-2144
E-mail: Caroline.Cooke@ct.gov
The Connecticut State Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer.
NEWS RELEASE
CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY REGISTRATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
This release serves as notification of the mandatory registration of food service management companies in order to participate in the 2020 Summer Food Service Program in Connecticut. Sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program may only contract with food service management companies that have registered with the Connecticut State Department of Education.
On or before March 27, 2020, each food service management company that desires to provide meals to a sponsoring organization must submit an application or renewal for registration to the Connecticut State Department of Education. The application form for registration can be requested by contacting Andrew Paul at 860-807-2048 or Andrew.Paul@ct.gov.
The Connecticut State Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer.
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