Chicago Public Schools Offering Free Lunch Beginning Tomorrow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, June 23, 2019

CHICAGO - Beginning tomorrow, Monday, June 24, the CPS LunchStop summer meal program will provide free lunch to children ages 1-18 at nearly 100 outdoor community sites throughout Chicago. The CPS LunchStop Program serves free, healthy meals in a fun and familiar environment to help make nutritious meals more accessible to students and the community during the summer.

“It’s critical that Chicago’s children have access to meals during the summer, and we are proud to continue providing access to thousands of meals through the annual LunchStop program at schools throughout the city,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson.

LunchStop locations operate from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at locations across the city. To find a location, parents can visit the 2019 summer meal map at cps.edu/summermealsmap, call the Illinois Hunger Hotline at (800) 359-2163 or text FOODIL to 877877.

CPS’ free summer meals are funded through the Summer Food Service Program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition to LunchStop locations, free meals are also available this summer through programming at hundreds of locations throughout Chicago.

DETAILS FOR PARENTS:

WHAT: CPS LunchStop Free Lunch Program

WHO: Open to ALL children ages 1-18 – children do NOT need to be CPS students in order to receive a free lunch.

WHERE: Locations across the city:

• To find a location, go to cps.edu/summermealsmap and click “LunchStop” (Note: the map feature includes both LunchStops and indoor locations that host summer programs, including summer school.)
• Parents and students can also call the Illinois Hunger Hotline at (800) 359-2163 or text FOODIL to 877877.

WHEN:

• Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 23, 2019
• Meals are available Monday – Friday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional information, flyers, and location cards, please visit cps.edu/summermeals.

Note: Media who are interested in recording b-roll at any of the locations should contact the CPS Office of Communications at 773-553-1620 or communications@cps.edu.

Chicago Public Schools serves 361,000 students in 644 schools. It is the nation's third-largest school district.

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