1. Summer Food Service Program
USDA Rural Development

2. No Tennessee Child Should Go Hungry

3. Going Hungry in America

4. Quick Facts
During the school year, the USDA serves 29 million children through the National School Lunch Program (administered by DOE)
During the summer, many of these children go without healthy meals during the day
Eleven percent (11%) of children who qualify for free and reduced lunch participate in our Summer Food Service program
During the school year, the USDA serves 29 million children through the National School Lunch Program (administered by DOE)
During the summer, many of these children go without healthy meals during the day
Eleven percent (11%) of children who qualify for free and reduced lunch participate in our Summer Food Service program
Together we can work to ensure that children who rely on free and reduced priced meals during the school year have access to nutritious food during the summer too.

5. TDHS SFSP Goals
More than 180 multi-family housing communities were SFSP host sites in 2015.
RD and FNS have a goal to increase the number of Multi-Family Housing communities participating in the program by 50%
More than 180 multi-family housing communities were SFSP host sites in 2015.
RD and FNS have a goal to increase the number of Multi-Family Housing communities participating in the program by 50%

6. Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Communities
Rural Development (RD) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are partnering to provide children in rural America with nutritious meals during the summer months.
RD Multi-Family Housing communities can work with local sponsoring organizations to serve meals to children 18 years old and under, free of charge, through SFSP, which is administered by FNS.
Rural Development (RD) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are partnering to provide children in rural America with nutritious meals during the summer months.
RD Multi-Family Housing communities can work with local sponsoring organizations to serve meals to children 18 years old and under, free of charge, through SFSP, which is administered by FNS.

7. What Do Property Managers and Children Think About the Program?
"I like the summer meals program because it offers a great opportunity for the community to come together as one and enjoy each other's company." - Teenager, Laurel Woods Apartments, Ashland, VA
"The Summer Meals Program was a great benefit to our tenants and their children. A lot of these children wouldn't have gotten a meal with their parents working." - Property Manager, Alamosa Farm Labor Housing, Alamosa, CO
"It is important to have the support of executive staff in order to make this program a success." - Residents Relations Manager, Broward County Housing Authority, Broward Co., FL
"I like the summer meals program because it offers a great opportunity for the community to come together as one and enjoy each other's company." - Teenager, Laurel Woods Apartments, Ashland, VA
"The Summer Meals Program was a great benefit to our tenants and their children. A lot of these children wouldn't have gotten a meal with their parents working." - Property Manager, Alamosa Farm Labor Housing, Alamosa, CO
"It is important to have the support of executive staff in order to make this program a success." - Residents Relations Manager, Broward County Housing Authority, Broward Co., FL

8. Who Is Involved? Recruit sponsors and publicize sites
Agencies
State
Recruit sponsors and publicize sites
Provide training and technical assistance to sponsors
Monitor sponsors and sites
Process claims and distribute reimbursements to sponsors
Sponsors
Recruit sites and provide them with training and technical assistance
Monitor sites
Report meal counts and submit claims for reimbursement to the State Agency
Conduct outreach to families in the community
Sites
Feed and supervise children
Provide activities
Conduct outreach to draw children to sites
State
Agencies
Recruit sponsors and publicize sites
Provide training and technical assistance to sponsors
Monitor sponsors and sites
Process claims and distribute reimbursements to sponsors
Sponsors
Recruit sites and provide them with training and technical assistance
Monitor sites
Report meal counts and submit claims for reimbursement to the State Agency
Conduct outreach to families in the community
Sites
Feed and supervise children
Provide activities
Conduct outreach to draw children to sites

9. How Does it Work?
Your responsibility in this effort is manageable, you are expected to:
Provide a location for meals to be distributed (inside or out)
Provide oversight
Keep records.
Details would be worked out with the sponsor organization in your town.
Your responsibility in this effort is manageable, you are expected to:
Provide a location for meals to be distributed (inside or out)
Provide oversight
Keep records.
Details would be worked out with the champion sponsor organization in your town.

10. How Can My Community Get Started?
Contact The Department of Human Services. We will provide information about the eligibility of your area and local sponsors that serve meals to sites.
We encourage you to learn if sites are already nearby before starting one in your community. Through community outreach and promotion of the program, you can increase the number of children participating in sites that already exist.
Contact The Department of Human Services. We will provide information about the eligibility of your area and local sponsors that serve meals to sites.
We encourage you to learn if sites are already nearby before starting one in your community. Through community outreach and promotion of the program, you can increase the number of children participating in sites that already exist.

11. How Can My Community Get Started Cont.
See if there are meal sites near your community last year by exploring USDA's Summer Site Finder. It will be updated throughout the summer.
Learn which other Multi-Family Housing communities are participating in the USDA Summer Meals Program by calling The Tennessee USDA Rural Development Office.

12. Identifying Areas of Need
USDA Capacity Builder

13. Tips to Being a Successful Housing Site
Community space (indoor or outdoor) for children to congregate and eat meals
Food storage facilities
Staff or volunteers to assist the property manager with day-to-day operations
Consistent days and hours of operation
Community space (indoor or outdoor) for children to congregate and eat meals
Food storage facilities
Staff or volunteers to assist the property manager with day-to-day operations: some spaces use parent volunteers
Consistent days and hours of operation: This is KEY

14. How Can I Learn More?
There aren’t enough willing sponsors and feeding sites in many communities
Team up with existing sponsors and sites to reach more children and cover more and different types of meals
USDA Summer Meals Toolkit: Learn about tips for getting the word out through community planning and outreach, success stories, and more.
Summer Food, Summer Moves: Explore fun games that children can play at sites.
Local Foods in the Summer Food Service Program: Partner with farmers to incorporate tasty, local foods at your site.

15. How Can I Help?
Share the Summer Meal Site Finder with your community. It will be updated throughout the summer.
Text FOOD (for English) or COMIDA (for Spanish) to to find a meal site near you during the summer.
Promote the National Hunger Hotline at HUNGRY or HAMBRE. The Hotline provides information about summer meal sites and other food assistance programs.

16. TN DHS Needs Your Help
Visit: for more information!