Thirteen South Dakota counties have been identified as having a high need for new sponsors for a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)— and half of those counties are in the central part of the state. During the school year, more than 57,000 children in South Dakota receive free and reduced-price mea ls through the National School Breakfast and School Lunch Programs, but those aren’t available when school isn’t in session. To fill the summer food gap for those kids, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers federally funded, nutritious meals to kids at approved sites in areas with high concentrations of low-income children. The program is available at no charge for kids ages 0-18 and to persons with disabilities over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. Central South Dakota counties designated as having a high need for new Summer Food Service Program sponsors are: Bennett; Buffalo; Campbell; Gregory; Hughes; Stanley; and Walworth. Other counties identified as being in high need of new program sponsors are: Aurora; Bon Homme; Butte; Custer; McCook; and Lake. The SFSP is overseen by the South Dakota Department of Education’s Division of Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS). Division Director Alan Haarstad says community organizations, nonprofits, schools, tribal governments, local governments, parks and recreation departments, city and county health departments, libraries, and neighborhood service agencies can all apply to be meal location sponsors if they: Operate in low-income areas; Serve a group of majority low-income children; or Operate a summer camp with a high proportion of low-income participants. Questionnaires are due by February 27, 2026. Upon eligibility determination, CANS staff will contact sponsors with more information. Organizations interested in reviewing sponsor responsibilities and serving meals during summer 2026 are invited to use the SFSP pre-screen tool at https://forms.office.com/g/rUW11qVZV5. To learn more about serving as a sponsor or site, contact CANS at [email protected]. For more information visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/faqs. ...read more read less