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In 2007, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provided
meals to 1.9 million children at 30,658 sites during the
program's peak month of July. SFSP served more than 120
million meals and snacks at a cost to USDA of more than
$289 million in fiscal 2007, primarily during summer vacation.
An ERS study of the SFSP examined program operations and factors affecting participation based on a nationally representative survey of State administrators, sponsor staff, and site staff. The study found that:
- In fiscal 2001, more than 4,000 local sponsors provided about 130 million meals at more than 35,000 feeding sites.
- The number of children served in July 2001 (2.1 million) was about 14 percent of the number who received free or reduced-price school meals each day during the school year.
- Most (58 percent) were elementary-school age children, but 17 percent of attendees were preschoolers and 25 percent were older children.
- Almost all sites (93 percent) also offered activities, such as organized games or sports, supervised free play, educational activities, and arts and crafts.
Two reports on Feeding Low-Income Children When School Is Out have been published. The Executive Summary reports major study findings. The Final Report provides more extensive information on the characteristics of sponsors, sites, and participating children; the nutritional content of meals served; and program operations and outreach. These and other ERS publications relevant to the SFSP can be found under Recommended Readings.
 Summer Food Service Program distribution sites and average daily attendance in July, 1989-2007 (peak month)
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