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Resources for Summer Meal Programs
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Please Note
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is sending posters (3 per school) and parent information cards (1 per enrolled student) to every school food authority (SFA) in Texas to assist them in fulfilling a National School Lunch Program requirement to notify students and their families about the availability of summer meals. The posters must be displayed on campus and the parent information cards must be distributed to each student immediately upon the shipment’s arrival.
Summer Food Service Program Order Form Will Return for Summer 2025
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Use the + button to expand each section.
SFSP Salary Guidance
Policy Documents
Summer Meal Site Best Practices
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Summer Best Practices Guidebook This guidebook details the SFSP resources TDA is providing below and includes instructions for utilizing them effectively. As a dedicated sponsor you know that increasing your community’s awareness of the availability of meals is just as important as developing robust meal sites complete with good nutrition and enrichment activities. And don't forget! Find out if a food item is credible by using the Food Buying Guide here. |
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Kickoff Event Toolkit Learn how to plan, promote and host a successful summer kickoff event. |
Summer Outreach Materials
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| Promotional Materials |
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Bookmarks - Pass out bookmarks to students, libraries and local shops within your community. Bookmarks are double-sided, English and Spanish. |
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Door Hangers - Directly reaching families in high-need areas can be as easy as putting one of these hangers on a doorknob. Ask volunteers to distribute door hangers near your site to help boost participation. Door hangers are double-sided, English and Spanish. Door hanger distribution should be done in accordance with local regulations or apartment community management consent. Door hangers should NOT be placed in mailboxes for any reason. |
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Parent Info Cards - Pass these cards out to let parents know about the program. The cards can also be used by local shop owners as take-a-ways on counters and near cash registers. Parent information cards are double-sided, English and Spanish.
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Program Posters - Display posters at local businesses and organizations so families in need will know about the program and how to find nearby meal sites. Suggested locations include libraries, shelters, food pantries, churches, hospital lobbies, doctors' offices, post offices, housing authorities, social service agencies, coffee shops, gas stations, Salvation Army and Goodwill locations. Make sure you receive shop owners’ approval before you hang the posters. Posters are available in both English and Spanish. |
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| Local Media Support Resources |
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Magazine Ads - Place these ads in local magazines, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Newspaper Ad - Place this ad in local newspapers, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English. |
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Press Release - Fill in the blanks with local information and send it to local publications and broadcast stations. Newspapers, radio stations and TV stations may consider featuring you and your program in a local interest story for the community. Now available in English and Spanish. |
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Proclamation - Download the proclamation and send it electronically to the mayor’s office and ask that the mayor and city council members present this “Healthy Summer Meals for Kids” proclamation at a city council meeting. |
| Web-Based Resources |
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Social Media and Direct Messaging Support Packet - This resource provides prewritten social media posts you can use to increase awareness of your summer meal sites. There also are photos and a campaign schedule. Utilizing the best practices and full social media campaign laid out in this packet will help your site increase awareness in your community. This packet can be used by teachers and schools to directly connect with parents and students through school-based apps such as Class Dojo, Seesaw and Remind, text messaging services, or robo calls. |
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Website Banners - Customize your webpage by uploading web banner. Connect visitors to a webpage specific to your summer activities or to www.SummerFood.org! We also offer banners to customize your social media pages as well. |
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Website Button - Use this web button to direct families to your summer activities or www.SummerFood.org! You can also utilize this button in a social media post to gain followers and direct viewers to the website above. Available in English and Spanish. |
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Coming Soon! Magazine Ads - Place these ads in local magazines, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Newspaper Ads - Place these ads in local newspapers, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Press Release - Fill in the blanks with local information and send it to local publications and broadcast stations. Newspapers, radio stations and TV stations may consider featuring you and your program in a local interest story for the community. |
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Social Media and Direct Messaging Support Packet - This resource provides prewritten social media posts you can use to increase awareness of your summer meal sites. There also are photos and a campaign schedule. Utilizing the best practices and full social media campaign laid out in this packet will help your site increase awareness in your community. This packet can be used by teachers and schools to directly connect with parents and students through school-based apps such as Class Dojo, Seesaw and Remind, text messaging services, or robo calls.
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Coming Soon! Magazine Ads - Place these ads in local magazines, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Newspaper Ads - Place these ads in local newspapers, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Press Release - Fill in the blanks with local information and send it to local publications and broadcast stations. Newspapers, radio stations and TV stations may consider featuring you and your program in a local interest story for the community. |
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Social Media and Direct Messaging Support Packet - This resource provides prewritten social media posts you can use to increase awareness of your summer meal sites. There also are photos and a campaign schedule. Utilizing the best practices and full social media campaign laid out in this packet will help your site increase awareness in your community. This packet can be used by teachers and schools to directly connect with parents and students through school-based apps such as Class Dojo, Seesaw and Remind, text messaging services, or robo calls.
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Coming Soon! Magazine Ads - Place these ads in local magazines, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Newspaper Ads - Place these ads in local newspapers, school newsletters or other publications you have in your community. The ads are currently available in English and fillable options in a variety of sizes. |
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Coming Soon! Press Release - Fill in the blanks with local information and send it to local publications and broadcast stations. Newspapers, radio stations and TV stations may consider featuring you and your program in a local interest story for the community. |
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Social Media and Direct Messaging Support Packet - This resource provides prewritten social media posts you can use to increase awareness of your summer meal sites. There also are photos and a campaign schedule. Utilizing the best practices and full social media campaign laid out in this packet will help your site increase awareness in your community. This packet can be used by teachers and schools to directly connect with parents and students through school-based apps such as Class Dojo, Seesaw and Remind, text messaging services, or robo calls.
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| Website Button - Use this web button to direct families to your summer activities or www.SummerFood.org! You can also utilize this button in a social media post to gain followers and direct viewers to the website above. Available in English and Spanish. |
| Website Button - Use this web button to direct families to your summer activities or www.SummerFood.org! You can also utilize this button in a social media post to gain followers and direct viewers to the website above. Available in English and Spanish. |
Additional Toolkits
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) lists these resources and providers as a service to school nutrition professionals. This list does not constitute an endorsement or verification of accuracy on the part of TDA:
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Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.
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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
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1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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| This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
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