VAC summer food program in its 15th year

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The Summer Food Service Program sponsored by the Voluntary Action Center is in its 15th year of serving the children of DeKalb County. Current organizations using the SFSP are the DeKalb Park District, YMCA, Mason Court Apartments, DeKalb Sycamore Association of Special Recreation’s Camp Maple Leaf and Neighbor’s House. The local SFSP serves an average of 300 meals per day, totaling about 16,500 meals from May to August.

The SFSP provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need. The program is intended to help low-income families stretch their food dollars by providing meals for summer programs, when attendees were previously required to bring their own lunches.

“VAC’s summer food program has helped so many of our camp families in the past, and with our current economic challenges, the program will provide great relief to even more families this summer,” said Debbie Madeley, marketing Director of the Kishwaukee Family YMCA, in a recent news release.

Due to a significant increase in the volume of meals produced over the last three years, VAC’s kitchen is unable to provide enough space for the program. Last year, SFSP was able to use the old hospital as it preparation site.

This year, the program will call the Sycamore Middle School its home. Added costs are a given with an off-site location, but it is a necessity to be able to produce the meals the county needs.

“Sycamore Community Schools (District) 427 is very happy to partner with the Voluntary Action Center on the Summer Food Service Program,” said Kathy Countryman, assistant superintendent. “The district feels it is vital to look for partnering opportunities that benefit the community and our stakeholders. By housing VAC at Sycamore Middle School, it is meeting one of our goals, which is to provide access to taxpayer resources to benefit the community.

“In the Sycamore community, there are many wonderful agencies that provide needed services, by working together we can avoid duplication of these services and enhance what we do.”

“In previous years, reimbursement has been able to cover the cost of the program; however, with rising costs, such as food and supplies this is no longer the case,” said Ellen Rogers, associate director of the Voluntary Action Center, in the release. “In the past, we have relied on the support of local benefactors to supplement the cost, and we are hoping we receive the same generosity this year.”

Illinois State Board of Education statistics indicate that more than 3,600 kindergarten students through 12th-grade students in DeKalb County currently qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The Daily Chronicle recently listed that the DeKalb school district had the highest percentage of National School Lunch Program qualifiers in the county last year, with about one in three district students receiving a free or reduced-price lunch.

According to Share Our Strength, “12.4 million children in America – that’s one in six – are at risk of hunger.” Valuable programs, such as the Summer Food Service Program, allow these children to receive a balanced nutritional meal each day.

To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program, contact Rogers at 815-758-3932.