RELEASE: Early Childhood Education and Care Department to administer the Summer Food Service Program in 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Julia Sclafani, Public Relations Specialist Email: ECECD-PIO@ececd.nm.gov Mobile: (505) 699-5937
Visit the Early Childhood Education and Care Department Newsroom here .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2026
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: ECECD-PIO@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699-5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
nmececd.org
Early Childhood Education and Care Department to administer the Summer Food Service Program in 2026
SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) will continue administering the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in 2026 — ensuring children have access to nutritious meals during summer break and other school closures.
All children ages 1-18 are eligible — no registration or proof of enrollment is necessary. Individuals over 18 who have a mental or physical disability and participate during the school year in a qualifying program are also eligible to participate.
Organizations eligible for meal site sponsorship include public or private, nonprofit school food authorities; public or private, nonprofit residential camps; units of local, municipal, county, Tribal, state and federal governments; National Sports Program sites; and private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.
SFSP is a federally funded program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administered in New Mexico by ECECD’s Family Nutrition Bureau within the Early Care, Education and Nutrition division. SFSP’s primary purpose is to offer free meals through eligible sponsoring organizations to children in low-income areas in summer months and other periods when most schools are closed.
SFSP-sponsored organizations may provide site-based, in-person meals and/or to-go meals for rural communities that qualify. To find a meal site near you, visit summerfoodnm.org or call 1-800-EAT-COOL (1-800-328-2665).
Organizations interested in administering and operating SFSP meal services in their community should contact the Family Nutrition Bureau at 505-231-4703 or by using the contact form at summerfoodnm.org .
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement and Complaint Information
In accordance with federal civil rights law and (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer and at any USDA office, or write a letter to USDA that includes all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
El Departamento de Educación y Cuidado Infantil Temprano administrará el Summer Food Service Program en verano en 2026
SANTA FE- El Departamento de Educación y Cuidado Infantil Temprano de Nuevo México (ECECD, por sus siglas en inglés) continuará administrando el Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano (SFSP, por sus siglas en inglés) en 2026, garantizando que los niños tengan acceso a comidas nutritivas durante las vacaciones de verano y otros períodos de cierre escolar.
Todos los niños de entre 1 y 18 años son elegibles, no se requiere registro ni comprobante de inscripción. Las personas mayores de 18 años con una discapacidad mental o física que participan durante el año escolar en un programa que cumpla con los requisitos también son elegibles para participar.
Las organizaciones elegibles para patrocinar sitios de comidas incluyen autoridades de alimentación escolar públicas o privadas sin fines de lucro; campamentos residenciales públicos o privados sin fines de lucro; unidades de los gobiernos locales, municipales, del condado, tribales, estatales y federales; sitios del Programa Nacional de Deportes Juveniles; y organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3).
El SFSP es un programa financiado por el gobierno federal del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) administrado en Nuevo México por la Oficina de Nutrición Familiar de la división de Cuidado, Educación y Nutrición Temprana del ECECD. El objetivo principal del SFSP es proporcionar comidas gratuitas a través de organizaciones patrocinadoras elegibles a niños en áreas de bajos ingresos durante los meses de verano, cuando la mayoría de las escuelas están cerradas.
Las organizaciones patrocinadas por el SFSP pueden proporcionar comidas en persona y/o comidas para llevar para comunidades rurales que califiquen. Para encontrar un sitio de comidas cerca de usted, visite summerfoodnm.org o llame al 1-800-EAT-COOL (1-800-328-2665).
Las organizaciones interesadas en administrar y operar los servicios de comidas del SFSP en su comunidad deben comunicarse con la Oficina de Nutrición Familiar al 505-231-4703 o a…