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Summer Meal Programs Keep Michigan Kids Healthy During Summer Break from School

LANSING – Michigan children will have access to healthy food all summer even as they are on summer break from school. 

Michigan Department of Education (MDE) officials today shared with the State Board of Education information about the three key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) no-cost summer nutrition programs. MDE administers two of the programs. 

“Improving the health, safety, and wellness of all learners is Goal 3 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “Summer food programs – along with giving children access to healthy meals during the school year – play a key role in meeting that goal. Many children depend on school meals to eat well and have that same need during summer break.” 

The two MDE-administered programs are the Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meet Up and Eat Up in Michigan, and the Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program. In 2023, the Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service Program served nearly 4.5 million healthy meals at more than 1,400 sites throughout the state.  

The third program is the Summer Electronics Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. 

“Together, these programs provide opportunities for families to ensure that the nutrition needs of children can be met during the summer in a variety of ways,” said Dr. Diane Golzynski, deputy superintendent for the MDE Division of Business, Health, and Library Services. 

The Summer Food Service Program provides free, nutritious meals to low-income children via a congregate meal service at locations within local communities across Michigan. In eligible locations where congregate meal service sites are not available, families can participate in the Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program. Non-congregate meal service is a food service in which meals are made available for children to enjoy in non-group settings. Non-congregate meal service may be operated only at sites designated as rural and with no congregate meal service.

To find a Summer Food Service Program site in their community, people can visit the Meet Up and Eat Up locator map at www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup. All information, including meal service times and serving dates, will be available once school is out for summer recess. The locator map website is updated regularly throughout the summer months.  

For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, visit www.michigan.gov/sfsp.  

For more information about how to help with Meet Up and Eat Up this summer, contact MDE at 517-241-5374 or mde-sfsp@michigan.gov.  

The Summer Food Service Program is administered by MDE through funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is available to children 18 and under regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, including gender identity and sexual orientation, age, or disability.  

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