SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today that Illinois schools and nonprofit organizations served nearly 18 million meals last summer during the months of June, July, and August under the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). ISBE is now seeking additional school districts, community organizations, churches, camps, park districts, and others to serve as SFSP sponsors and/or sites for this coming summer. Sponsors and sites help Illinois continue to ensure all children have access to healthy meals year-round even when schools are not in session.
“Many students rely on our schools for their meals, and we know that need doesn’t end with the start of summer break,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “Nutrition plays such a vital role for successful learning and development. We sincerely thank our many schools and other program sponsors who step up during the summer months to help fight hunger and keep our students full and ready to learn when the school year starts up again.”
Organizations interested in participating in ISBE’s summer meals programs in 2022 can obtain more information by calling ISBE’s Nutrition Department at (800) 545-7892, emailing cnp@isbe.net, or visiting the ISBE SFSP website. Calhoun, Carroll, Dewitt, Edwards, Jasper, Jo Daviess, Monroe, Piatt, Pope, Putnam, Richland, Scott, Wabash, Washington, and Wayne counties had no summer meals sites in 2021.
Families in need of meals should contact their school if they have questions about available meal services during the summer months. Families can also call (800) 359-2163, text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA”) to 304-304, or visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website to find nearby meal sites not located at their school that are open to all children and youth age 18 and under. ISBE partners with No Kid Hungry and the Illinois Hunger Coalition to operate the hotline, which refers families to the nearest summer meals serving sites.
The SFSP is funded by the USDA and administered by ISBE in partnership with local organizations across the state. The program provides funding to public or private nonprofit Local Education Agencies; entities of state, local, municipal, or county government; residential camps; organizations with 501(c)(3) status; and faith-based organizations to serve nutritious meals to children during the summer months when schools are not in session.
Learn more about ISBE Child Nutrition Programs at www.isbe.net/nutrition.
Civil Rights Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact the USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/how-file-program-discrimination-complaint and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov