PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Education’s division of Child and Adult Nutrition Services is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program, which provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.

Many South Dakota children receive free and reduced-price meals through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs, but these programs are not available during the summer months when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program fills this gap by providing free, nutritious summer meals to children at approved sites in areas with high concentrations of low-income children.

Community organizations, nonprofits, schools, tribal governments, and local governments can apply to be sponsors if they operate in low-income areas, serve a group of mostly low-income children, or operate a summer camp with a high proportion of low-income participants. Parks and recreation departments, city and county health departments, libraries, and neighborhood service agencies can also participate as sites or sponsors.

Sponsorships are available statewide, with opportunities for new sponsors in the following counties:  Bennett, Bon Homme, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Custer, Gregory, McCook, Meade, Ogalala Lakota, and Stanley.

Organizations interested in reviewing sponsor responsibilities and serving meals during summer 2024 are invited to use the SFSP pre-screen tool at https://ican.sd.gov/ican/PreScreen/PreScreenOverview.aspx. Please complete this questionnaire by Feb. 1, 2024. Once eligibility is determined, department staff will contact sponsors with more information.

To learn more about serving as a sponsor or site, call Child and Adult Nutrition Services at 605-773- 3413. For more information, please visit: https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/SFSP-Fact-Sheet.pdf.

The Summer Food Service Program is available at no charge for children ages 0-18 and to persons with disabilities over age 18 who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

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 (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf), (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint (https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-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.