How can a site start participating in the Summer Food Program?

Sites that wish to procure and serve food on their own should contact the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) at (202) 654-6116. If your site needs a sponsor to deliver food and handle financial obligations, you can apply to be sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) - DPR site applications are due April 30, 2011.

Sites are organizing for D.C. Free Summer Meals now. OSSE will host a trainings for new sponsors on April 21 and 28, from 10am to 1pm at 810 First Street, NE 4th Floor. Register for these trainings by emailing wellness.nutrition@dc.gov.

To get started:
Read how to apply to be a sponsored site through DPR for more information on how to submit the following forms:

• Site Information form
• Sponsor/Site Agreement

How can my child get free summer meals and snacks in D.C.?

Find a site serving free summer meals. Children 18 and younger can show up at these sites to eat for free.

Download the Summer Food Program section (pdf) of How to Get Food in the District of Columbia. The section includes: what the summer meal program is, how a child can participate, how to find sites in the city that serve free summer meals to children.

D.C. Summer Food Participation Data

• Since 2003, the District’s Free Summer Meals Program has ranked number one in the nation for reaching the largest percentage of eligible children, compared to other states.
• In the summer of 2010, The D.C. Free Summer Summer Meals Program served more than 1.3 million meals to children and youth in the District of Columbia.

More Summer Food Resources

Visit the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Wellness and Nutrition Services Web site section on the D.C. Free Summer Meals Program.

Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Web site section on the Summer Food Program.

Visit the Food Research and Action Center's Afterschool Resource Center for advocacy information on the Summer Food Program.

Become a D.C. Hunger Solutions Volunteer

Fill out this form to get involved by volunteering, or connect with us through Idealist. Volunteer opportunities include conducting SNAP/Food Stamp outreach, interning with D.C. Hunger Solutions, teaching healthy snack lessons, staffing a booth at a community event, researching policy issues, or creating a project tailored to your skills and interests.

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Watch D.C. Hunger Solutions' Video

When Healthy Food Is Out of Reach

Hungry? Find Help.

Looking for services for you and your family? The DC Food Finder can help you find food locally.