Get Involved in SFSP

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Summer should be a fun and carefree time for children, but for many families in Colorado, summer is when food budgets are stretched thin and children are at a greater risk of experiencing hunger. When school gets out for summer vacation, many children lose access to meals they receive during the school year. What can you do to help? Check out where to plug in on the SFSP Flow Chart!

Four Ways You or Your Organization Can Participate in SFSP

Become a Sponsor

  1. Make an investment in the children in your community. If your organization already provides services to the community, and has capable staff and good management practices to run a food service, you can administer SFSP.
  2. As a sponsor, you will:
    1. Apply with Colorado Department of Education
    2. Attend CDE’s sponsor training
    3. Hire, train, and supervise staff
    4. Arrange for meals to be prepared or delivered
    5. Monitor your site(s)
    6. Prepare claims for reimbursement

Run a Site

  1. Some organizations do not have the financial or administrative ability to run the program, but they can supervise a meal service for children, or provide recreational or enrichment activities, at a site.
  2. If you supervise a site, you will:
    1. Attend your sponsor’s training
    2. Supervise activities and meal services at your site
    3. Distribute meals according to SFSP guidelines
    4. Meet county health and sanitation regulations
    5. Report daily records of meals served to sponsor

Be a Vendor

  1. Organizations with kitchens and food service staff, including schools, commercial companies, or public or nonprofit institutions, can participate in SFSP as vendors. Instead of administering or supervising a meal service site, a vendor sells prepared meals under an agreement or a contract with an approved SFSP sponsor.
  2. As a vendor, you will:
    1. Register with the Colorado Department of Education
    2. Meet county health and sanitation regulations
    3. Prepare meals meeting federal nutritional guidelines
    4. Deliver meals on schedule or arrange for pickup
    5. Keep delivery records
    6. Fulfill the terms of the agreement or contract

Volunteer

  1. Even if your organization cannot take on the responsibilities of a sponsor or a site, you can team up with a sponsor to provide time, space, resources, financial support, and political voice for existing programs.

For additional information please refer to the USDA’s Guide to Starting a Summer Food Service Program In Your Community.