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 helps fill the gap 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 sponsors such as nonprofit schools, camps, government organizations, religious organizations and others, to feed low-income children.

All sponsors, new and returning, are required to attend training at a location most convenient for them, and must complete the application process as soon as possible.

Sessions in the local area: — Fruitland - March 1 — Boise - March 7

The 2013 training registration information is available online at http://www.databasesdoneright.com/nutrition/. Select the calendar to find the training.

Application information is provided at training and is due to the State Department of Education by April 26 and must be approved by the department prior to program operation. Applications that are not complete by June 15 will not be approved.

Last year, Idaho’s 84 summer food sponsors served approximately 1.38 million meals at 343 sites.