Press Releases
01/31/2022
State Department of Education Seeking Applications for Summer Meal Sponsors
Sponsoring Organizations Help Provide Nutritious Meals to Connecticut’s Children
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut State Department of Education has begun work with organizations interested in providing meals through the 2022 Summer Food Service Program. In a typical summer, the program distributes more than 1.75 million meals to over 37,000 children aged 18 years and younger, at 650-700 locations statewide.
The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and serves as the summer extension of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs in order to provide meals for children during the summer when households do not have access to school meals.
Local Summer Food Service Program sponsors may include public or private nonprofit school food authorities; state, local, municipal or county governments; residential public or private nonprofit summer camps; public or private nonprofit colleges or universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program; and private nonprofit organizations. Any one of these groups or organizations able to verify that at least half the children in their potential service area qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may apply to be a sponsor.
The Connecticut State Department of Education is prepared to work with sponsoring organizations and community partners to identify locations eligible to host a Summer Food Service Program site. Eligible communities or neighborhoods are those where the income level of 50 percent or more of households with children are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. All sponsors must agree to serve meals to any eligible child regardless of his or her race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Summer Food Service Program sponsors are reimbursed according to predetermined USDA rates. Meals must comply with federal nutrition standards.
Further information about program participation is available through the Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education, 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 504, Hartford, CT 06103. Additional information on the Summer Food Service Program can be found on the Bureau’s website.
Individuals looking to access summer meals can look for Summer Meal Locations as the school year ends by contacting 2-1-1 Connecticut or End Hunger CT!'s Summer Meals Site Finder.
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Media Contact: Eric Scoville
Connecticut State Department of Education
E-Mail: Eric.Scoville@ct.gov
860-424-1988 (cell)
Program Contact: Caroline Cooke
Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education
Connecticut State Department of Education
E-mail: Caroline.Cooke@ct.gov
The Connecticut State Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer.
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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY REGISTRATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
This release serves as notification of the mandatory registration of food service management companies in order to participate in the 2022 Summer Food Service Program in Connecticut. Sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program may only contract with food service management companies that have registered with the Connecticut State Department of Education.
On or before March 1, 2022, each food service management company that desires to provide meals to a sponsoring organization must submit an application or renewal for registration to the Connecticut State Department of Education. The application form for registration can be requested by contacting Andrew Paul at 860-807-2048 or Andrew.Paul@ct.gov.
Eric E. Scoville
Director of Communications
Connecticut State Department of Education
Office of the Commissioner
Cell: 860-424-1988
CSDE Media Inquiry Submission Form
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