Meal sites sought to feed children while school is out of session

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) is seeking partners to provide free meals to children through the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). SFSP ensures that students who depend on school meals have nutritious food when school is not in session.

“Meals are available to children 18-years-old or younger when school is out of session, no questions asked,” said NDA Community Nutrition Supervisor Lindsay Talbot. “Meal sites are needed to ensure Nevada's youth have continued access to healthy meals and snacks, regardless of their socioeconomic background.”

Partnering organizations may prepare meals or serve meals obtained from another SFSP partner, public or commercial food vendor, a local government agency or a school food service department. All meals must meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) minimum meal pattern requirements for SFSP. The program reimburses agencies that serve meals to children 18-years or younger during school breaks and closures in geographic areas where at least 50 percent of students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals. Partnering organizations in rural locations can offer non-congregate meals, meaning meals can be picked up at designated locations; however, meals in urban locations must be consumed onsite, as defined by USDA designations.  

The program benefits all children in accordance with federal law and USDA policy and is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Past sponsors have included Three Square Food Bank, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, city parks, schools, and recreation centers throughout the state. 1.3 million meals were served through SFSP in Nevada last year.

Organizations interested in becoming an SFSP partner should contact Lindsay Talbot at

702-668-4581 or LTALBOT@agri.nv.gov by March 22, 2024. For more information about SFSP, visit agri.nv.gov/summerfood.

About the Nevada Department of Agriculture

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) mission is to preserve, protect and promote Nevada’s agriculture. The department has 225 dedicated employees providing services in its five divisions, Administrative Services, Animal Industry, Measurement Standards, Food and Nutrition, and Plant Health and Compliance. The department’s $288 million budget facilitates regulatory and administrative work in agriculture and food manufacturing industries, protecting public and environmental health and worker safety, and providing food distribution and oversight for the United States Department of Agriculture’s school and community nutrition programs.

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