The Summer Food Service Program for children and teens is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and is administered locally by the Baltimore Housing Office of Community Services. Currently, six HABC developments are staffed by trained site supervisors (most of whom are with ORS) ensuring that all meals are served in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
As an extension of the National School Lunch Program, which is designed to guarantee eligible children free and nutritious breakfasts and lunches during the school year, the Summer Food Service Program was created to guarantee these same youngsters meals during their summer vacations.
Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does a child's need for good nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious breakfast and lunch to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow throughout the summer months while they are out of school. The SFSP provides healthy meals and plays a vital role in reducing childhood hunger when schools are not in session.
The program is available to children and teens age 18 and under as well as individuals 19 years of age and over who have a mental or physical disability and participate during the school year in a public or private non-profit school program.
The six HABC developments provide nearly 600 meals daily to children. The Program is slated to end in mid-August. The site supervisors at several locations are requesting that the program be extended to August 30th in line with the start of the new school year in Baltimore city, which begins after Labor Day on September 3, 2019.
