by Fatima Jawaid

We are excited to announce this year’s SMSF application cycle is open: Applications will be accepted from Monday, March 2nd through Friday, April 17th, 2020

During the school year, tens of thousands of Oregon children eat school meals each day. However, when school ends for the year, so does this important source of nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program is meant to help fill that nutritional gap, offering free meals and snacks to all kids ages 1-18. Summer meal programs are open to all families without paperwork or signing up – kids can just drop in! Many programs also offer fun activities so kids can stay active and keep learning.

Through our Summer Meal Support Fund (SMSF), Hunger-Free Oregon helps connect communities and families to summer meals – through financial support and technical assistance to new or expanding Summer Meal programs in Oregon. Since 2009, we have provided small grants of up $5,000 per program. Grant funds are targeted to support Summer Meals programs with equipment purchases, staffing, transportation costs, activity supplies, and outreach efforts.

Hunger-Free Oregon is committed to addressing economic inequity to accomplish our mission. Data shows food insecurity disproportionately impacts communities of color, recent immigrants, single parent households, LGBTQIA+ communities, individuals with disabilities, and people in rural areas of Oregon. In the 2020 grant cycle, Hunger-Free Oregon will be prioritizing applicants who prioritize equity and inclusion for underserved communities, with priority considerations for programs seeking to maximize engagement and support to marginalized groups.

In addition to financial support, Hunger-Free Oregon strives to work one-on-one with grant recipients to promote best practices, raise awareness, and provide technical assistance and/or support to Summer Meal programs throughout the state.

Grant Objectives:

1. Help bring summer meal programs to communities that need them.
2. Increase the number of summer meal sites and the number of meals served in Oregon.

We encourage applications from the following:

• New SFSP sponsors and sites
• Programs offered by community based or culturally specific organizations; and/or sponsors/sites that provide targeted inclusion and outreach to marginalized communities (communities of color, immigrant communities, homeless youth, LGBTQ+, etc)
• Programs located in rural or high poverty areas; and/ or catered towards middle and high school students

For questions, please contact Fatima Jawaid, Senior Program Manager, Child Hunger Prevention, at 503-595-5501×307 or [email protected].

Apply here!