Summer Food Service Program for Maryland

Program Overview

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The Maryland SFSP assists children belonging to underprivileged backgrounds and poor households to buy food items to improve their health conditions during their summer vacations.

Program Objectives

The main aim of the Maryland Summer Food Service Program is to provide the kids from underprivileged families living on a fixed budget with an opportunity to improve their food quality and receive healthy nutrition during their summer breaks. It helps them add valuable nutrition to their diet by purchasing food that is healthy and nutritious.

The program also provides education to individuals and families on how to include healthy food in their diet. This leads them to live a healthy and self- sustaining lifestyle subsequently increasing the quality of life of the people in the state. Through the Summer Food Service Program, the state makes sure that the children are getting nutritious food when they are not attending school during summer breaks.

The job of the agencies running the Maryland Summer Food Service Program is to identify children living in poor households whose parents’ income is low. The agencies also work to distribute healthy meals around churches, parks, and playgrounds.

Eligibility Requirements

Only eligible applicants can avail the benefits of the Summer Food Service Program for Maryland and the eligibility requirements include,

• The candidate should be a permanent resident of the state of Maryland
• The candidate must have a US citizenship or legal alien to receive the Summer Food Program in the state
• The candidate must be a high school student with 18 years of age or younger
• The income level of the household should be within the income limit brackets specifies by the federal and the state government

The number of members in the household and the total household income are also very important factors while considering a candidate for the Summer Food Service Program in the state of Maryland.

There are other certain criteria for the Summer Food Service Program for Maryland which decides the eligibility of the candidate. Those are,

• If the children are migrant
• If the children are homeless or don’t live at their home due to factors like abusive parents
• If the children qualify for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Head Start program provided by the state

You can also visit the official website of the Maryland Summer Food Service Program website to check the eligibility criteria of the program. The applicant will have to provide information like,

• Earnings
• Rent or mortgage
• Utility expenses
• Child support expenses
• Day-care expenses
• Other benefit programs you have applied to
• Any other payments

How to Apply

There are multiple ways to apply for the Maryland Summer Food Service Program which an applicant can use to apply for the program,

Online application

After making sure of your eligibility for the Summer Food Service Program, the next step is the application process. You can make your application online by visiting the Maryland SFSP website. Here you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Maryland to access the application form.

Apply through the local office

To get your child registered for the free summer food program, you will have to get in touch with your child’s school office. The school administration that deals with this program will guide you through the whole application process. In order to find an office near you please visit the School Meals Contacts.

It is important to fill it 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.

Before filling the application form make sure you have all the required information to speed up the process. Once you have filled out the application form you can return it to the SPSP office either by,

• Email
• Mail
• Fax
• In-person

You can also call the SFS office at 410-767-0214 or email at eatsmart@msde.state.md.us if you have any queries regarding the application process.

For Further Information

In case of queries or any extra data required, information about the Maryland Summer Food Service Program is available on the School and Community Nutrition Programs website. It provides information regarding the program policies and guidelines to applicants to help them get a better understating of the program. This makes the applying process very flexible for the applicants who can use any of the above-mentioned methods to apply for the Summer Food Service Program in the state of Maryland.

Also Discover: National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Missouri