As local school districts pause their summer food services to prepare for the new academic year, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is running a program to continuing providing meals for children.
The CUPHD is offering free breakfast and lunch through Aug. 11 to children ages 1 to 18 at its main location on Kenyon Road in Champaign on weekdays.
“We are really looking to just fill the gap so that when school districts take a little break, kids can still have a place where they can come and eat,” said Jennifer Lotton, the program coordinator.
Each meal is planned following guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture as part of the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program. Meals include protein, or meat alternatives, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains.
The food is served cold since the district does not have a commercial kitchen. Some of the menu staples include cheese sticks, crackers, fruit cups and build-your-own pita pizzas.
Menu planning is overseen by CUPHD staff, including Zachary Welsh, who said he tries to make the food appealing to children.
“We are looking for projects that are easy to eat, regardless of age—1 to 18—and making sure that they are things that kids will actually want to eat,” he said.
To give children access to fresh and local produce, the district includes food in its Give Back Garden. Some of the foods that are being grown include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet lunchbox peppers. The produce is harvested and served to participants in meals the next day.
“It’s super fresh, super healthy and grown with love,” Lotton said. “ We are so grateful to our volunteers who help make that component possible.”
In addition to food, the summer meals program offers children and families a place to cool off. The building’s lobby includes Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Staff said children can draw on coloring pages, watch Disney+ and pick out free books to take home.
The district has hosted the food program for 16 years and plans to continue it as needed.
“As long as there is a need in the community, we plan to be here to help fill the gap,” Lotton said.
The Champaign Urbana Public Health District is a financial supporter of Illinois Public Media. IPM News covers the organization as it does any other.