The School District of Palm Beach County offered the Summer Food Service Program through the Seamless Summer Option again in the 2013-2014 school year. The nutrition requirements for the Seamless Summer Option program are the same as the regular National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
113 sites were opened which is a 16% increase from the previous summer. Collectively an average of 8,540 breakfasts and 11,219 lunches were served per day. Compared to the summer of 2013, participation increased 9% for breakfast and 12% for lunch.
Throughout Palm Beach County there are five other Summer Food Service sponsors. Together these sponsors opened 114 Sites and served an average 3,526 breakfasts, 4,373 lunches and 2,588 snacks/suppers per day. This is a 14% increase in the number of sites, a 26% increase in average daily breakfasts served, a 20% increase in average daily snacks/suppers served, and a slight decrease of -7% for average daily lunches served by these sponsors.
The Summer Food Service Program is designed to provide funds for eligible sponsoring organizations to serve nutritious meals to low-income children when school is not in session. All children, whether enrolled in a summer program or not, can eat free under the Summer Food Service Program guidelines. Children who live close to an approved site may walk to that site each day to receive free meals. No paperwork or income documentation is required from them. “Open sites” are located in areas where at least 50% or more of the children have families with incomes that fall below 185% of the federal poverty level. This is determined by the school’s Free and Reduced Price Meal Application records. The program is fully funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The School District of Palm Beach County has been participating in the Summer Food Service Program since 1999. To qualify, a school must have at least 50% of their student population eligible for Free or Reduced Price meals during the previous school year. They must also be planning a student activity on school grounds such as summer school, camps, Boys and Girls Club meetings on campus, etc.