SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was established to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer when schools are closed. The program provides for up to two free meals a day for children 18 years old and younger.

The Program is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and within Massachusetts by the Department of Education (DOE). The City's Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) sponsors the Program in Cambridge through a contract with DOE. DHSP is responsible for implementing the SFSP in accordance with federal regulations. In return, we receive Federal reimbursement from DOE to cover administrative and operating costs of preparing and serving free meals meeting SFSP requirements to eligible children. 

For the last several years DHSP has been contracting with Preferred Meals, Inc., a national company headquartered in Chicago, to prepare and deliver breakfast, lunch and snacks to meal sites located throughout Cambridge. Meal sites are located at many of the Cambridge Schools and Parks. This past summer, 71,212 meals were served to approximately 1,200 children at 29 different sites.

For information on how to become a serving site or for a list of sites and times, interested parties should call 617-349-6252 in mid-June.