Summer Food Service Program / SUN Meals · Virginia
Virginia SFSP and SUN Meals — State Agency, Sponsor Requirements, and Summer Meal Rules
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), branded federally as SUN Meals, provides free meals to children age 18 and under when school is out for the summer. In Virginia, SFSP is administered by Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Nutrition Programs. Below is the state agency contact, how to apply as a sponsor or site, and the federal meal pattern rules that apply at every Virginia summer meal site.
Virginia SFSP State Agency
- Agency
- Virginia Department of Education
- Division
- Office of School Nutrition Programs
- Phone
- (804) 225-2074
- Official SFSP page
- https://www.doe.virginia.gov/programs-services/school-operations-support-services/school-nutrition/programs-services/summer-food-service-program
- FNS Region
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Office — USDA FNS Mid-Atlantic
Who Can Sponsor SFSP in Virginia
The following organizations may apply to VDOE to become an SFSP sponsor in Virginia:
- Public or private nonprofit school food authorities running summer meals at Virginia school sites.
- Units of local, municipal, county, or tribal government including parks, recreation departments, and libraries.
- Private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based groups, meeting SFSP financial and administrative standards.
- Residential and non-residential summer camps serving children from areas with at least 50% free and reduced-price eligibility.
- Public or private nonprofit universities and colleges running upward bound or similar programs.
Site Eligibility for Virginia Summer Meal Sites
Most SFSP sites in Virginia qualify as open sites in areas where at least 50% of children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Virginia sponsors can also operate:
- Closed enrolled sites serving a defined group of enrolled children when at least half of them would qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Migrant sites primarily serving children of migrant workers.
- Camp sites that claim only the children from eligible households attending.
- Non-congregate rural sites allowed under permanent USDA rule for Virginia communities that meet the rural non-congregate designation under 7 CFR 225.6.
How to Apply as a Virginia SFSP Sponsor
- Contact VDOE early — most states, including Virginia, begin sponsor outreach and training in late winter for the following summer.
- Complete the required sponsor training offered by VDOE. SFSP sponsor training covers meal patterns, recordkeeping, civil rights, and financial management.
- Submit the sponsor application, management plan, and budget to VDOE through the state agency's portal.
- Identify Virginia site locations and document their eligibility (open, closed enrolled, camp, migrant, or rural non-congregate).
- Receive state agency approval and enter into a Permanent Agreement. Begin serving meals once the agreement and site approvals are in place.
SFSP Meal Pattern for Virginia Summer Meal Sites
Unlike CACFP, SFSP uses a single meal pattern for all children ages 1 through 18 (7 CFR 225.16). Sites in Virginia must include the following components per meal:
| Meal | Required components |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 1 cup milk · 1/2 cup vegetable, fruit, or full-strength juice · 1 serving of grains or bread · optional meat/meat alternate |
| Lunch or Supper | 1 cup milk · 2 oz meat/meat alternate · 3/4 cup combined vegetables and fruits from two or more sources · 1 serving of grains or bread |
| Snack (2 of 4) | Choose 2 of: 1 cup milk, 1 oz meat/meat alternate, 3/4 cup vegetable/fruit/juice, 1 serving grains or bread |
Source: 7 CFR 225.16 and USDA FNS SFSP meal pattern chart. Sponsors in Virginia may also serve meals that meet the NSLP or CACFP patterns at their option.
Need year-round meals in Virginia?
SFSP only runs while school is out. For year-round child care, Head Start, afterschool, and adult day care meals in Virginia, see the Virginia CACFP state page.
Plan audit-ready SFSP menus for your Virginia summer sites
CrEATe lets you build SFSP-compliant summer meal menus in minutes, validate meal pattern requirements, and export production records and daily meal counts ready for your Virginia state agency review.