Summer Food Service Program for Vermont

Program Overview

The Summer Food Service Program for Vermont provides nutritious meals to children when their school session is off. These children normally receive food assistance during academic session but due to this program government of Vermont makes sure that they get the meals when they are not attending the school. The program is made available at various locations to eligible families of Vermont which includes parks, playgrounds, community centers, housing authorities, and daycare centers. Mostly the meals are combined with recreational activities and sports for the children.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state-administered by the Vermont Agency of Education Child Nutrition Programs. Regional offices and approved sponsors, private non-profit organizations, local government agencies or camps and school districts take part in the administration of this program.

Program Objectives

Summer Food Service Program for Vermont has been designed to achieve various objectives. The main objective of the program is to provide required nutrition to the children of Vermont when they are not having state sponsored meals. The Summer Food Service began as a preventive measure taken to ensure the provision of nutritionally balanced diet, to the school children during the summer vacation period. The program has proven as effective tool to provide nutritious food to children belonging to lower income class and to reduce the obesity among them. The food provided under the program includes fruits, vegetables, meat, grains ad milk and the food served must meet the quality standards set by the federal nutrition standards. Summer Food Service Program for Vermont helps to meet these objectives:

• Children in low-income areas have free nutritious meals.
• Children are ready to learn during their fall session after eating nutritious meals during summer vacation.
• Provision of healthy food must decrease the obesity level
• Improving the food quality in low budget
• Through the program, individuals and families are given education on how to include healthy food in their diet.
• Living a healthy and self- sustaining lifestyle subsequently increasing the quality of life of the people in the state.

Eligibility Requirements

Only eligible applicants can avail the benefits of the Summer Food Service Program for Vermont. Healthy meals and snacks are served to eligible children and teens at approved sites in high-need areas, to help them get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow, throughout the summer months when they are out of school. At most sites, eligible children get one or two meals each day.  However, camps and sites that primarily serve migrant children are served with up to three meals to each child, each day. The eligibility requirements include:

• Children should be the residents of the state of Vermont.
• Children of 18 years of age or younger are eligible for Summer Food Service Program.
• Children with disabilities are eligible to apply
• Children who are members of 3SquaresVT or Reach Up households or meet the income guidelines below are automatically eligible to receive free meals at these other sites.
• The income level of the household should be within the income limit brackets specifies by the federal and the state government

If you are eligible for the program benefits, and searching Summer Food Service Program sites near you? You can locate the site through Summer Meal Site Finder mapping tool.

How to Apply

There are multiple ways to apply for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Vermont.

Apply through office

After making sure of your eligibility for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Vermont, the next step is the application process. You can make your application by visiting USDA’s Summer Meal Site Finder to locate an office near you. Here you will be provided with all the necessary information to apply for the SFSP.

Apply online

You can visit Vermont Agency of Education web page and can apply though Child Nutrition Program Online Application link. It is important to fill the application as accurately and truthfully as possible because false statements can lead you to penalties. Once the application is submitted you cannot change it hence it is advisable to be careful while filling out the application form.

For Further Information

For further information about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Vermont, visit the official website by clicking this link. It provides information regarding the program policies and guidelines to applicants to help them get a better understating of the state programs.

For more details you can call the Vermont Department of Education-Child Nutrition Programs office at: 802-828-5154

Also Discover: Summer Food Service Program for Oregon