Published: 1 hour ago
" Rural non-congregate feeding flexibilities such as meal bundling, grab-and-go service, and home delivery are once again available in Summer 2026. School districts and community partners who have previously not operated a summer feeding program due to cost and transportation concerns are encouraged to learn more about how these flexibilities can help provide free and nutritious meals to children during the summer months.
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Children receiving and enjoying nutritious meals is essential for their health, development, and overall well-being – throughout the school year and during the summer.
That’s why it’s never too early to start considering summer meals service. If you are a rural school district that is mandated to operate a summer program but is considering opting out via a waiver, or if your organization has never participated in a summer meals program, rural non-congregate service flexibilities such as grab-and-go service, parent/guardian pick-up, and home delivery can broaden accessibility of meals to students and potentially provide less cost and time-prohibitive ways to serve those meals.
Be on the lookout for updated materials and guidance on operating SFSP or SSO rural non-congregate sites to be released early next year, including the 2026 Non-Congregate Request Form and an updated Summer Rural Non-Congregate FAQs.
To learn more and stay informed about non-congregate summer meal service, visit SquareMeals.
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