Funds available to feed low-income children
By Chronicle Staff
Federal funding from the U. S. Department of Agriculture is available to Illinois schools, local government agencies, faith-based and community organizations and other sponsors to operate food programs for low-income children this summer, according to a news release. The funds will reimburse organizations that sponsor the USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children.
When school lunchrooms close for the summer, low-income children in Illinois communities who rely on free or reduced price school meals could be at risk of hunger or malnutrition. USDA’s Summer Food Service Program is designed to bridge this summer nutrition gap. It reimburses sponsors for serving free, nutritious breakfasts, lunches or snacks to children through age 18 in eligible low-income areas. Last summer, only 107,233 low-income Illinois children ate free meals through USDA’s Summer Food Service Program or at summer school – only 14.9% of the 721,993 children who ate free or reduced price school meals in the previous school year.
In Illinois, the USDA Summer Food Service Program is administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. New sponsors should contact the state agency as soon as possible to attend required training. Applications and sponsor information may be obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education, Division of Nutrition Programs and Support Services, 100 N. First St., Springfield, IL 62777; by calling 800-
545-7892; or by e-mailing
abianco@isbe.net.
