Summer meal programs are designed to fill the nutrition gap that occurs during the summer and make sure children can get the nutrition they need.  

Administered by the Food and Nutrition Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, summer meal programs provide free, nutritious meals to kids ages 1 to 18. Many sites provide not just meals, but educational, enrichment, and recreational activities that help children continue to learn and stay safe when school is not in session. Summer meals act as a “magnet” to draw children to activities, and activities draw children to summer meals. Meals can be served at a variety of locations including schools, camps, parks, recreation centers, YMCAs, Head Start Centers, Community Action Agencies, Boys and Girls Clubs, and many other places.  

For questions about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or the Seamless Summer Option (SSO), which is for School Nutrition Program sponsors only, a Summer 2025 Comparison Chart has been developed to explain options. It is posted at https://cnw.ksde.gov, SFSP, SFSP What’s New.  

Contact KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness at (785) 296-2276 or an area KSDE child nutrition consultant to discuss options for serving meals in summer 2025.