Officials say that the free and reduced prices meals price meals public schools provide during the school year are often the only meals of the day for some students.
When schools let out for the summer, they found, many students go hungry.
Officials say that the free and reduced prices meals price meals public schools provide during the school year are often the only meals of the day for some students. When schools let out for the summer, they found, many students go hungry. But thanks to the federal government, state agencies and community organizations, free meals will be offered to families who need them over the summer months. It’s a national problem, and one being addressed here in the city as well, officials said at a launch event July 1 for this summer’s local feeding program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Chicago Public Schools, Catholic Charities, Greater Chicago Food Depository and a host of other corporate and non-profit community organization sponsors have teamed up to offer nutritious breakfasts and lunches to children and some members of their families. “We want kids to come back from summer vacation not having starved and binged,” USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon told the Defender at the launch event held at Catholic Charities WIC Food Center, 4622 W. Diversity. He explained that his federal agency, which oversees and administers the nation’s free and reduced cost lunch program, had conducted a study and found that 17 million children, at some point, go hungry because they have no food. The peak hunger times, Concannon said, were during the summer months. This isn’t the first year for the free summer feeding program in Chicago. Last year some 105,000 kids were fed through the program. But officials said Thursday that they know hundreds of thousands more didn’t take advantage of the program, in part because organizers hadn’t done a good job of getting the word out about it. But this year they hope to change that number and serve more people, offering more than just nutrition but also some moral support. “By providing a meal … we’re providing hope to kids in the community,” said Diane Doherty, executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition. There are 374 sites serving lunch to children up to age 18, 200 more sites than last year, officials said at the launch. Of the 374 sites, 312 of them offer breakfast, as well. CPS students and non-students are eligible to participate in the program. “Childhood hunger doesn’t end on the last day of school,” said Bob Bloomer of CPS’ Nutrition Support Services. Concannon explained that the meals would model First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiatives for combating childhood obesity, offering whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. The under secretary is traveling around the country to help promote the program in areas where need has been identified. Three million children nationwide participated in the free feeding program last summer. Concannon said he wants to drum up even more participation. Though the meals are free to the children, the cost to provide them is a real one, officials said. Concannon explained that this year’s program is paid for through stimulus dollars from the USDA and by local sponsorships and partnerships. “It’s a whole bunch of partnerships,” he said. “It’s not one agency … and that is the best model for the country.” For information on where the local feeding sites are, call (800) 359-2163. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
Photo: Defender/Dominic Brown
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