State Offers Summer Meals For Kids Across South Suburbs

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL —Food insecurity is increasing across the south suburbs, but children can find free meals and snacks after school ends through the Summer Food Service Program.

The program provides free healthy meals and snacks to children and teens age 18 and younger at hundreds of sites across Illinois during the summer. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education in partnership with local organizations across the state.

About one in six children in Cook County are at risk of hunger, according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and hunger touches every community in the state. Yet only 12 percent of children who receive a meal at school during the school year in Illinois receive a state-sponsored summer meal in the summer, according to the Food Research & Action Center.

As part of the program, the Food Depository’s Lunch Bus will provide summer meals at 15 sites on three routes throughout Chicago and the suburbs every summer weekday. The Lunch Bus provides approximately 2,700 meals every week; it provided more than 27,000 total meals in summer 2018.

Meals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must meet eligibility requirements. For a family of four, that means a yearly income of $46,435. To learn about whether you qualify, contact a local provider or try 800-545-7892 or at cnp@isbe.net.

Families can find their nearest summer meals site by calling 800-359-2163, texting “FoodIL" to 877-877, or visiting summermealsillinois.org.

Here is a partial list of sites across the south suburbs:

Chicago Heights

• Euclid Park
• Bloom Trail High School
• Housing Authority of Cook County-Chicago Heights

Crestwood

• Crestwood Public Library
• Care Program

Harvey

• Harvey Community Center

Hazel Crest

• Jesse C White Learning Center
• Mae Jemison School

Midlothian

• Midlothian Public Library
• Kolmar Elementary

Oak Forest

• Acorn Public Library

Olympia Fields

• Olympia Fields Park District Summer Camp

Palos Heights

• Shepherd High School