During the summer, children who receive free and reduced-price meals at school often lack access to nutritious food. The Greater Chicago Food Depository responds to summer hunger by partnering with a range of community organizations to operate summer meal sites across Cook County. These summer meal sites aim to reach children in convenient neighborhood locations, including Chicago Public Library.
The summer meal partnership between the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Public Library began in summer 2012 at West Englewood Branch. Since then, the partnership has grown to providing summer meals at more than 25 branch locations:
- Altgeld
- Austin (Lunch Bus)
- Back of the Yards
- Brighton Park
- Canaryville
- Chicago Lawn
- Coleman
- Daley, Richard M.-W Humboldt
- Gage Park
- Greater Grand Crossing
- Harold Washington Library Center
- Humboldt Park
- Kelly
- Legler Regional
- Little Italy
- Little Village
- Logan Square
- Lozano
- Manning
- McKinley Park (Lunch Bus)
- North Austin
- Sherman Park
- Thurgood Marshall
- Toman
- Vodak-East Side
- West Belmont
- West Chicago Avenue
- West Englewood (Lunch Bus)
- West Town
- Woodson Regional
Thanks to this partnership, children across Chicago’s neighborhoods have the food they need to grow, learn and thrive in the summer months. They can enjoy the season without worrying about their next meal.
To find other summer meal sites near you this summer, call (800) 359-2163, text FoodIL to 877877 or visit SummerMealsIllinois.org.
Summer meals are reimbursed by the Summer Food Service Program of the USDA.
