About Hunger
- Hunger In Milwaukee
- Hunger Facts
- Priority Campaigns
- Federal Nutrition Programs
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / FoodShare
- SNAP-Education
- School Breakfast Program
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
- Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
- Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) / Stockbox
- Senior Farmers Market Vouchers
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
- Hunger Publications
- Hunger Partners
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
What is it?
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals to children age 18 or younger during the summer months. The SFSP provides financial reimbursement to any sponsor for up to two meals a day that meet specific meal pattern and nutritional guidelines. The SFSP is federally-funded through the USDA, but administered in Wisconsin through the Department of Public Instruction.
Why is it important?
In a city where 1 in 4 children go to bed hungry, summer hunger is a harsh reality. During the school year, many children rely on school meals for their main source of nourishment. But many kids don’t have access to nutritious meals during the summertime. It is critical that communities come together to fill the summer nutrition gap.
Summer Meals
The “Milwaukee Model”
Here in Milwaukee, summer meals are provided at a variety of different sites in the community – parks, apartment complexes, churches, community centers, YMCA’s, Boys & Girls Clubs, and recreation centers. The Summer Food Service Program offers opportunities to eliminate both the summer slide (diminishment of skills and knowledge over the summer months) and the summer nutrition gap by combining engagement and educational opportunities with nutritional, reimbursable meals.
The Milwaukee Summer Meals Program utilizes the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), to serve free meals to all children attending summer meal sites. A summer meal program requires extensive collaboration with local non-profits, sponsors, school districts, meal providers, and county services. The services brought to children age 18 and under throughout the summer are incredibly important to communities, and ensure our city’s children return to school healthy and ready to learn.
As the federal nutrition programs are consistently changing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and community partners continue to monitor best practices and effective strategies. The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and No Kid Hungry provide incredible resources that help us share best practices to increase participation, as well as policy changes that can be made to improve these programs.
Student Meal Options 2021
Summer 2021 has concluded. With some students learning virtually, and other schools closed due to COVID-19 protocols, the Milwaukee Public Schools are offering walk-up meal pick up at 6 different sites throughout the city. Students or parents can pick up meals daily between 11-12pm Monday-Friday at the sites below. All students will receive one breakfast and one lunch, and no pre-order is required for meal pick-up. Viewthese sites on the interactive maps below! Visit the MPS Meal Distribution website for the most current information:
- Andrew Douglas Middle School
- Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language
- North Division High School
- Parkside
- South Division High School
- Vincent High School
Interested in becoming a summer meal site or sponsor? Contact Ashley Best at [email protected].