FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
MEDIA CONTACT: Public and nonprofit organizations can host SUN Meals program locations.<\/em> \u00a0<\/p>\n BALTIMORE (February 3, 2025) <\/b>\u2014 <\/span>The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking public and private nonprofit organizations to participate in\u00a0SUN Meals<\/a>, formerly the Summer Food Service Program.<\/p>\n SUN Meals \u2014 a federally funded, state-administered program \u2014 provides free, nutritious meals to children and teens during the summer months when school is not in session. Last summer, SUN Meals provided more than 6 million meals at over 1,200 sites, helping to close the nutrition gap between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.<\/p>\n \u201cFamilies facing food insecurity can find the summer months especially difficult,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools<\/strong>. \u201cSUN Meals and SUN Meals To-Go programs create a broad network of free meal sites across the state. From eating at a meal site to receiving a meal box to take home, families in need can access nutritious food all summer long.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Qualifying organizations may participate as either\u00a0SUN Meals sites<\/a>, which serve meals to the community under a sponsoring organization; or as a sponsoring organization, which plan, coordinate and manage the meal service at one or more sites. All meals and snacks must meet federal nutrition standards.<\/p>\n SUN Meals provides reimbursement to sponsoring organizations in areas where at least 50 percent of households qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program, or 50 percent of the children enrolled in a summer program qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Most organizations may be reimbursed for up to two meals or snacks for each child daily; camps and migrant programs may be reimbursed for up to three meals.\u00a0<\/p>\n The summer meals program is open to youth under age 18. Individuals over age 18 with disabilities and participate in the federal meals program at a public or private nonprofit school during the academic year are also eligible to participate.\u00a0<\/p>\n The application deadline for new sponsoring organizations is Tuesday, April 15. For more information, contact the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410-767-0192 or\u00a0scnpmailbox.msde@maryland.gov<\/a>.
Raven Hill, 410-767-0486
raven.hill@maryland.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nApplications Open for Summer Meal Sites<\/h2>\n