Summer Meal Programs rely on innovation and collaboration to reach children who need good nutrition when school is out of session. This toolkit gives State administrators, Program operators, and community partners creative ideas and resources to make Summer Meal planning easy, raise awareness, overcome barriers, and serve nutritious food that is appealing to children. While you are here, be sure to check out this month’s Summer Meals Newsletter!
Table of Contents
- Getting Started
- Hosting and Recruiting Sites
- Nutritious Meals
- Partnerships
- Policy and Administration
- Raising Awareness
- Sponsor Operations
- State Administration
Getting Started
Hosting and Recruiting Sites
- Events
- First Book
- Intergenerational Meals
- Mobile Meal Delivery
- Nutrition Activities
- Rural Challenges
- School Outreach
- Seamless Summer Option for Schools
- Site Recruitment Strategies
- Teens
- Transportation Challenges
- Tribal Youth
- Unserved and Underserved Areas
Nutritious Meals
- Congregate Meals
- Family Style Meals
- Leftovers
- Meal Pattern Requirements
- Meal Service Options
- Meal Service Times
- Nutrition Education
- Offer Versus Serve
- Planning Healthy Summer Meals
- Sample Menu
Partnerships
- Department of Defense
- Department of Transportation
- Faith-Based Organizations
- Food Corps
- Head Start
- Let's Move Cities, Towns and Counties
- Libraries
- Police Departments
- Proactive Planning for Partners
- Public and Indian Housing
- Rural Development
- Schools
Policy and Administration
Raising Awareness
- Answers for Parents
- Answers for Potential Operators
- Governors
- Mayors and Local Elected Leaders
- News Releases
- Pitch a Story
- Promoting Sites
- Promotion Materials
- Public Service Announcements
- School Food Service Directors
- School Principals
- Social Media
- State Elected Leader
- State Superintendents
- Tribal Leaders
Sponsor Operations
- Additional Funding Sources
- Assessing Costs
- Budgeting for Success
- Farm to Summer – Sponsors
- Outreach Tips for Sponsors
- Proactive Planning for Sponsors
- Tips for Sponsors Success