USDA seeks sponsors to provide meals for keiki while school’s out for summer

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program is seeking sponsor organizations on all islands to help provide children in low-income communities with free meals during summer.

The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals that help children learn, play and grow during summer break, when many schools are not in session.

Schools, public agencies, churches and private nonprofit organizations can apply to be sponsors, which receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to children and teenagers, 18 years old and younger.

Sponsors also are encouraged to provide educational or recreational activities.

Meals were served at 150 non-Hawaiʻi Department of Education locations throughout the state during the summer of 2025, including locations at public charter schools, nonprofit organizations, preschools, churches, parks and housing facilities.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education served meals free of charge at 68 public school locations and alternative learning programs on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island through its Seamless Summer Option program last summer.

Hawaiʻi Child Nutrition Programs will conduct virtual workshops for new and returning sponsors in March.

Personnel responsible for administering the Summer Food Service Program will be required to attend.

Contact Shaynee Moreno at Hawaiʻi Child Nutrition Programs by calling 808-587-3600 or via email at Shaynee.Moreno@k12.hi.us for additional information.