Free Meal Program continues during summer vacation

More than 1,900 sites to serve free breakfast and lunch during summer months

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced that approximately 1,900 sites are expected to serve free breakfast and lunch to children and teens ages 18 and younger across Illinois during summer vacation. No application or proof of income is necessary to receive a meal.

“This program helps keep students on track during the summer months and they’re better prepared to succeed when school doors open again in the fall,” said State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. “When children continue good habits, such as eating nutritious meals, they are better able to adapt to the school year.”

The summer meals program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by ISBE, has grown during the past several years. Last summer, USDA invested $373 million and fed approximately 2.3 million children on a typical day through the Summer Food Service Program. During the 2011 summer, Illinois served 5.9 million meals to children, up from 5.8 million the previous summer, at sites across the state.

Summer feeding sites can include schools, places of worship and faith, community facilities, park districts and other locations.

“Summer is a time when worry sets in because hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” said Pete Schaefer, president and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank. “We are doing our part in the community by providing over 5,000 hungry children with breakfasts, lunches or snacks on weekdays this summer by partnering with 139 summer youth programs.”

This year, families can search for a nearby site offering free meals at http://www.summerfeedingillinois.org/.

The website is offered through the Share Our Strength, a national child anti-hunger organization and other organizations that are addressing childhood hunger with the Illinois No Kid Hungry campaign. Individuals can also text FoodIL to 877-877 or get the Android App at http://bit.ly/summerfeeding to find a nearby site.

Families can also check out resources on summer reading at: http://www.isbe.net/htmls/summer_reading.htm

For the latest news from the Illinois State Board of Education, follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Illinois-State-Board-of-Education/136022251779 or Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/ISBEnews. Visit the official ISBE website at http://www.isbe.net.