Different meal sites will have different food needs. These may include:

• Individual prepared meals

• Bulk prepared meals

• Retail meals

• Managed food service contracts

How it works

• You will be introduced to a Financial Sponsor (eg YMCA, a school) who will help evaluate your capacity and fit for the program

• If they decide to move forward, the Financial Sponsor will pay you for every meal served at a set rate (typically the USDA reimbursement rate for the programs you’re serving 

• You will create a delicious menu that is delicious, healthy, and meets the USDA guidelines

• Your will be responsible for delivering food to the meal sites on a daily basis

• At the end of the week you will report total meals served to your Financial Sponsor

What meals are included?

• Summer: Breakfast and / or lunch

• After school: Snack and / or supper

• School day: Breakfast and / or lunch

How much do we get paid?

• The USDA reimburses your Financial Sponsor for every meal - rates vary slightly depending on the specific USDA program, but they are around $2.55 for breakfast, $4.48 for lunch / supper, and $1.00 for snack. 

• The Financial Sponsor will pay you at a set rate per meal - this is typically a few cents less than the reimbursement rate to cover the Financial Sponsor’s administrative costs. 

• Most states allow vendors to serve up to $250,000 worth of meals without a formal bid process; beyond that threshold the Financial Sponsor will need to release a public bid for the contract. Your business - along with other vendors - can bid on the contract, and it will be awarded to the lowest bidder. 

What are the requirements?

• The program is open to any food business interested in serving nutritious, delicious, culturally-familiar meals to youth in the community

• You must be able to document menus, recipes, and portion sizes; track meals delivered to each site; and take temps of product upon delivery

• Meals must follow the USDA nutritional guidelines

Meal service models

• Individual or bulk prepared meals:

  • The program is open to any food business interested in serving nutritious, delicious, culturally-familiar meals to youth in the community

  • You must be able to document menus, recipes, and portion sizes; track meals delivered to each site; and take temps of product upon delivery

  • Meals must follow the USDA nutritional guidelines

• Retail meals:

  • During the summer, restaurants located in high-needs areas can serve Local Lunchbox meals out of their retail space.

  • Kids can come into the restaurant, order the Local Lunchbox special, and eat their meal at the restaurant. 

  • At the end of the week, the business reports the total Local Lunchbox meals served to the Financial Sponsor, who pays the business at the agreed upon rate. 

• Managed food service contracts:

  • Some groups may have commercial kitchen facilities, but nobody to cook in them. 

  • Rather than preparing food offsite, your food business could use the kitchen to cook and serve food directly in the facility, providing staff, purchasing food, and cooking on site. 

• How to get started:

  • Complete the Local Lunchbox Food Vendor Form

  • If you have any questions, please email Hello@LocalLunchbox.org