Summer Meal Service
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Seamless Summer Option (SSO) provide kids and teens in low-income areas free snacks and/or meals when school is out.
There are several ways that schools and local organizations can be a part of providing summer meals.
If your entity would like to become a Sponsoring Organization for the Summer Food Service Program, please review our New Applicant Guide for the Summer Food Service Program for instructions on the forms required for submission. Upon review of the guidance forms, if you would like to apply, please use the following link:
Schools and community organizations interested in becoming a site that serves summer meals should contact Health and Nutrition Services to confirm the site is in an eligible area. Request information by email at [email protected] or by phone at 602-542-8700.
Visit www.azhealthzone.org/freesummermeals to find a summer feeding site.
The Excessive Heat Non-Congregate Feeding Waiver permits sites to conduct a non-congregate meal service on days when the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Warning, or Excessive Heat Watch for the area where the site is located.
Actions for Operators:
Summer operators wishing to utilize the Excessive Heat Non-Congregate Feeding Waiver must opt in at the site-level by requesting its use in each applicable CNPWeb Site Application - Section 4.
The participating operator will be required to track and report to HNS the number of meals served under this flexibility in the survey link provided below and keep documentation supporting the Excessive Heat Warning/Watch from the National Weather Service.
Children need good nutrition all year long. Schools have the option to operate the Summer Food Service Program, the Seamless Summer Option, and the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to provide nutritious meals after the regular school year ends.
Which program will be the best option for serving meals to children in your community? To help you decide, we have created a fact sheet to review the three feeding options.
USDA is implementing regulatory changes to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) regulations that simplify program requirements for SFSP program operators, improve the customer experience for participating children and families, and strengthen the integrity of the program. Many provisions codified through this final rule were previously allowed as program flexibilities and are demonstrated to facilitate program administration and service delivery for children and their families. This rule is effective Oct. 1, 2022. Compliance with the provisions of this rule must begin May 1, 2023.
- Federal Register Notice of Final Rule
- Streamlining Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP Final Rule - Comparison Chart
- Meal Patterns for Seamless Summer Option Operators:
- Lunch/Supper Meal Pattern (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)
- Breakfast Meal Pattern (3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day)
- Snack Meal Pattern
- Meal Pattern for Summer Food Service Program Operators: Breakfast, Lunch/Supper, and Snack Meal Pattern
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) conducts Administrative Reviews (ARs) of all School Food Authorities (SFAs) and Community Organizations (COs) operating the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option. The review schedule will be released this summer.
Training
USDA Manuals and Guides
- Administrative Guidance for Sponsors
- USDA Nutrition Guide for SFSP
- USDA Capacity Builder
- USDA Summer Meals Toolkit
- Summer Food, Summer Moves Resource Kit
- Summer Food, Summer Moves: Operator's Activity Guide
USDA Reference Sheets
HNS Reference Sheets
- Appeal Procedures
- Hearing Procedures for Camps
- Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination
- Example of How to Complete the Daily Meal Count Form (Correct) (Incorrect)
- Summer Feeding Options for Schools Factsheet
- Summer Meal Service Site Eligibility
- Six Reasons to Offer Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals
- Operating Both Congregate and Non-Congregate at the Same Site
Summer Farm Fresh Challenge
Each June, HNS invites all operators to participate in the Farm Fresh Challenge during their summer meal programs. The challenge is an initiative designed to empower summer program operators to cultivate excitement around fresh and locally sourced foods. Participating operators must complete a series of challenges that promote the tasting, teaching, and connection of participants to foods local to Arizona.
Follow along to complete the Summer 2025 Farm Fresh Challenge
Turnip the Beet! High Quality Summer Meals Award Program
Each summer, USDA recognizes outstanding Summer Meal Program sponsors who work hard to offer appetizing, appealing, and nutritious meals. The Turnip the Beet Award was created to showcase sponsors who are going above and beyond to ensure that children in their care are receiving high-quality meals that are both nutritious and appetizing. Nominations must be sent to HNS by September 30.
