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Child Food and Nutrition

Second Harvest’s commitment to the elimination of hunger extends beyond the traditional food pantries and soup kitchens maintained within our service territory. In addition, we at Second Harvest consider it our mission to ensure that children receive adequate nutrition in order to lead healthy and productive lives. Below are descriptions of some of the programs dedicated to feeding children that we encourage and support.

Federal Programs

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious snacks and meals to licensed child care centers (including Head Start), family day care homes, homeless shelters, after-school programs and adult day care centers to eligible children and adults.

For organizations wishing to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, more information is available by clicking here.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

CSFP is available to children between the ages of 5 and 6 who have previously participated in WIC. With a referral from the local WIC office, a box of food designed to supplement the child’s diet is provided to each family, free of charge.

To find out more information about CSFP for children, please click here.

Food Stamp Program (FSP)

The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. An applicant completes a State application form at the local County Assistance Office, online or by calling 1-866-203-3323. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores.

To get more information about The Food Stamp Program, please click here.

School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

The School Breakfast and Lunch Programs are federally funded programs that provide reimbursement to public and non-profit private schools. The programs are funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Participating schools must comply with federal nutrition standards and provide free and reduced-price meals to eligible children.

For more information about the School Breakfast Program, click here.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods (link to USDA), health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

To locate the closest WIC office, or for more information, visit the Pennsylvania WIC Online website.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was established to ensure that children from low-income families continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free meals that meet federal nutrition guidelines are provided to all children at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.

For organizations wishing to participate in the Summer Food Service Program, more information is available by clicking here.

Click on your city to find the closest program where your child can get a free meal:

Local Programs

Backpack Buddies (BPB)

Throughout our service territory, there are children who may not have access to nutritious meals from lunchtime on Friday until they return to school or their summer activity and have breakfast on Monday. Backpack Buddies seeks to fill that gap by providing easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly food for the weekend. Backpack Buddies currently serves a limited number of children in very limited areas.

If you would like to donate to the Backpack Buddies program, the items that are most needed are:

A dollar goes a long way toward feeding children in need:

Additional Information (Coming Soon)