Chicago Public Schools Offering Free Lunch Over Summer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, June 21, 2018

CHICAGO - Beginning next Monday, June 25, the CPS LunchStop summer meal program will provide free lunch to children ages 1-18 at 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.

“Having access to nutritious meals over the summer is essential for children,” CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson said. “This year, we are pleased to once again expand access to the CPS LunchStop program -- and with the help of our dedicated community partners, CPS will continue working to ensure that no child goes hungry this summer. "

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 2018 summer meal map at cps.edu/summermealsmap, call the Illinois Hunger Hotline at (800) 359-2163, or text FOODIL to 877877.

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.

Last year, LunchStop served approximately 170,000 meals at more than 95 locations throughout the city.

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. Indoor locations only provide lunches to children participating in those programs, but all children are eligible to receive meals at LunchStop locations)
• Parents and students can also call the Illinois Hunger Hotline at (800) 359-2163 or text FOODIL to 877877.

WHEN:

• Monday, June 25, through Friday, August 24, 2018
• 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.

Chicago Public Schools serves 371,000 students in 646 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

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