Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is seeking statewide partners to expand access to nutritious meals for children during the summer months. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provided over 4.3 million meals and snacks in 2024, marking a 12 percent increase from the previous year.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders emphasized the importance of planning for summer meal programs despite the current cold weather. "Federally funded Summer Meals programs address childhood hunger and ensure children have access to nutritious meals during the summer months when most schools are out of session," he said. Sanders expressed gratitude towards schools and organizations administering these programs and encouraged more communities to participate, noting that many children rely on school meals throughout the year.

In 2024, Illinois had 144 SFSP sponsors with 1,585 meal sites, alongside an additional 187 sponsors operating through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). SSO sponsors delivered an extra 923,263 meals and snacks—a 13.5% increase from 2023—operating across 74 of Illinois's 102 counties.

The USDA has introduced a non-congregate meal service option for qualifying sponsors to enhance meal accessibility. While traditional programs require onsite consumption, this new flexibility permits grab-and-go options under certain conditions.

Virginia Community Unit School District 64 Superintendent Mekelle Neathery shared positive feedback about their experience with non-congregate summer meals: "The non-congregate model helped remove barriers like transportation limitations, childcare needs, and scheduling conflicts." Neathery highlighted partnerships with local organizations such as Virginia Christian Women’s Fellowship and Virginia Masonic Lodge No. 544 in creating a supportive network for students.

SFSP provides funding to various public or private nonprofit entities including Local Education Agencies; state or local government bodies; residential camps; organizations with a 501(c)(3) status; and faith-based groups to offer nutritious meals during school breaks. The USDA has announced SFSP's reimbursement rates for sponsors in 2025 on ISBE's website.

Organizations interested in participating can contact ISBE at their hotline or visit their website for more information.

Families needing meal assistance are advised to reach out to their local schools or use resources like the Illinois Hunger Coalition hotline or USDA online map for nearby meal sites available to children up to age eighteen.

The program adheres strictly to federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or retaliation related to civil rights activity. Information may be available in multiple languages and alternative formats upon request through appropriate channels including USDA’s TARGET Center.

Complaints regarding program discrimination can be filed using Form AD-3027 from any USDA office or via mail, fax, or email directed at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at USDA.