The Child Nutrition Division of the State Department of Education is seeking sponsors for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals for children, ages 1-18, who live in areas in need of economic assistance during school summer vacations.

This program fills the gaps for families who may not be able to afford to give their children nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session.

The department contracts with public and private schools, nonprofit organizations, city, county, and tribal governments, and other organizations to feed low-income children during the summer months.

Last year, Idaho’s 88 summer food sponsors served about 1.4 million meals at 337 sites.

For the 2012 program year, sponsors may be: public or private nonprofit schools; public or private nonprofit residential camps; local, municipal, county, tribal, or state governments; public or private nonprofit colleges or universities that participate in the National Youth Sports Program; Upward Bound programs; libraries; or private nonprofit organizations.

New sponsors must attend training at a location near them and complete a paper application as soon as possible. Continuing sponsors for the 2012 summer program are invited to choose a training session in March or April at a location near to them. The 2012 training schedule is

March 14 – Fruitland March 21 – Boise April 9 – Coeur d’Alene April 10 – Lewiston April 17 – Idaho Falls April 18 – Pocatello April 19 – Twin Falls

The 2012 training registration information is available at http://www.databasesdoneright.com/nutrition/ or by clicking the link to the right. Select the calendar to find the training.

Applications are provided at training and are due to the Department by May 4, 2012.