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USDA Summer Meal Programs


Summer Café Poster

There are many organizations in South Carolina that are providing free healthy meals to children throughout the summer months.  Please use one or more of the following resources to find a location near you:

During the school year, many children receive a free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Program. When schools let out, many children are at risk of going hungry. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins and make children more prone to illnesses and other health issues. The Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) are designed to fill that nutrition gap and provide children with the nutritious meals they need and deserve. They are federally-funded programs that provide free meals to school-aged children, 18 years old or younger, living in an area-eligible location. South Carolina's Summer Food Service Program is the Summer Break Café. Summer Café sites are located in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, recreation centers, camps, parks, churches, and many other facilities as long as the site meets the area eligibility criteria and other guidelines subject to approval.

Learn more information about the Summer Break Café with the following: 2024 Sponsor Informational Meeting (PDF)

Summer Food Service Information Meeting
SCDE will be hosting several virtual informational meetings. The first one will be held on January 18, 2024, from 10:00am-12:00pm via Microsoft TEAMS.

2024 Sponsor Informational Meeting
Performance Standards, Budget, and Management Plan Implementation Date Waiver

SCDE is requesting a waiver from USDA for the implementation date to fully conduct comprehensive evaluation of each Summer Food Service Program sponsor’s performance standards which include the evaluation of a management plan. This challenge is due to prioritizing our limited resources and staff to meet the requirements of the newly passed omnibus legislation. This includes systems changes, training, policy development etc., while implementing the new requirements in the Streamlining Program Requirements and Improving Integrity in the SFSP Final Rule, simultaneously.

USDA Summer Meal Site Finder

Map from the USDA showing Summer Food Service sites.

Become a Summer Break Café (SBC) Sponsor

Although Summer Break Café Community Partners are reimbursed for approved meals that they serve, their organization must be financially and administratively capable to operate the program as well as attend required training. During Part One of the application process, organizations must provide information to verify their capabilities. The deadline to receive this information is usually the last of February. If you have any questions, please email summerbreakquestions@ed.sc.gov.

Become a Summer Break Cafe Site

How to become a site?

Seamless Summer Option (SSO)

Schools can apply to operate the Seamless Summer Option if they currently participate in the National School Lunch (NSLP) or Breakfast Programs (SBP). This allows schools to continue the same meal service rules and claiming procedures used during the regular school year. 

USDA Summer Meal Program Guidance

USDA Summer Meal Program Guidance 

USDA Non-discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. fax:
    (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.