Beat the Summer Heat: Northern Illinois Food Bank Launches Free Meals Program for Kids!

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is kicking off its summer meals program, providing 7,500 free meals daily for children and teenagers in 13 counties across Northern Illinois. This initiative, running from June 2 to August 15, offers meals without requiring any identification or registration. Kids can simply walk up to participate.

Summer can be a tough time for families. Over 20 million kids in the U.S. depend on school meals during the year, but those meals stop when school ends. To tackle this issue, the food bank is partnering with the Illinois State Board of Education to ensure kids don’t go hungry. Meals are available to anyone 18 and under, and they must be eaten on-site.

Julie Yurko, the food bank’s CEO, emphasizes the importance of this program: “When school is out, many kids face hunger. We want to make sure they have the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive.”

Operated under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s guidelines, the summer meals are served at various locations including parks, libraries, and community centers. Each meal includes a grain, protein, milk, and two servings of fruits or vegetables, following USDA nutritional standards. Some spots also feature fun activities to keep kids engaged.

In addition to this, Northern Illinois Food Bank has introduced Family Fresh Mart. This mobile initiative, running from June 9 to August 1, brings free boxed lunches and fresh produce directly to neighborhoods. Families don’t need to show ID or register—just stop by and pick up food.

Here’s where you can find Family Fresh Mart:

• Tuesdays: Addison Public Library, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays: Lords Park, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Fridays: McCarty Park, 11 a.m. to noon and Plum Park, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Illinois families can also apply for a one-time Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child. This helps with grocery costs during the summer months when kids aren’t receiving free meals. The assistance is loaded onto an EBT card, usable at various stores and even some farmers’ markets.

For more details, families can reach out to the Food Bank’s SNAP team or visit their website.

Northern Illinois Food Bank has been supporting communities for over 40 years. They provide around 250,000 meals daily and collaborate with numerous partners to combat hunger. With the help of volunteers, they empower families to access the food they need with dignity.

For additional resources, you can check their website at Solve Hunger Today.

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