Illinois State Board of Education Seeks Sponsors/Sites for Summer Food Programs

 Programs ensure low-income students are well fed when school is out

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Though there is a chill in the air now, summer is on its way and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) wants to make sure every child enjoys access to nutritious meals during the summer break. School districts, local government entities, and nonprofits are encouraged to become a summer food site sponsor and/or site to provide free, healthy meals and snacks to low-income children.

“Schools are the heart of healthy communities and often are the only source of steady, nutritious meals for students from low-income households,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “Summer meal programs help ensure students receive the proper nutrition they need to stay healthy and thrive after the school year ends. I urge school administrators to spread the word about these valuable programs and encourage their local families to participate.”

Participation in summer meal programs continues to increase, but still falls short of the meals served during the school year. During the summer of 2014, Illinois program sites served meals to a little over 107,000 children, or 14.8 percent of the almost 726,000 children who received free or reduced-priced meals during the 2013-14 school year. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that nearly 3.2 million children received summer meals on an average day during the summer. The total number of children participating in summer nutrition programs nationally saw an increase of 215,000 children, or 7.3 percent, from 2013.  However, only 16 out of every 100 eligible children in 2014 received a meal in the summertime.

“USDA’s Summer Food Service Program helps bridge the nutrition gap and reduce the risk of hunger for millions of children and teens who receive free or reduced-price school meals during the school year,” said Tim English, Midwest regional administrator for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. “We know that poor nutrition can affect children’s health and well-being, as well as academic performance. When children receive nutritious meals throughout the summer, they are better prepared to start the next school year healthy and ready to learn.”

The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals and snacks to low-income children through age 18 when schools are on break. Individuals age 18 through 21 who are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on file may also participate. Summer food programs typically operate when schools close for summer during June, July, and August, but can start as early as May and may go into September. Sites must be located in areas where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals from the National School Lunch Program or family income is 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

ISBE administers the USDA’s ”Summer Food Service Program” (also known as ”Summer Meals”). School districts, local governments, and nonprofits can all sponsor summer food sites, housing the sites at schools, parks, recreation centers, housing projects, migrant centers, churches, summer camps, and other locations.

Most summer food program sites open doors to all children in the community without any enrollment or entrance requirements. Other sites only serve meals to those children enrolled in a specific summer program. More than 1,700 summer food service program sites offered free meals last summer through more than 168 Illinois sponsors. 

Training is required to participate as a sponsor. Upcoming new sponsor workshop dates and cities are listed below.  To register for the workshops, please visit www.isbe.net/nutrition/htmls/sfsp_training.htm.

Institutions may also participate as a meal site through an existing or a new sponsor.

School administrators are encouraged to help sponsors to educate students, their families, and the community about available programs in their area.

For information on becoming a sponsor or meal site, call the Summer Meals program at (800) 545-7892. To find a summer meals site close to you, contact the Illinois Hunger Coalition’s Hunger Hotline at (800) 359-2163 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The hotline is available in both English and Spanish. Summer meal sites can also be found by texting FoodIL to 877877 or visit SummerMealsIllinois.org.