By Imani McClay
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) -Community organizations are partnering with Peoria Public Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education to provide kids free breakfast and lunch over the summer.
“We want to be a part of the solution by participating in the PSD 150 program to be able to provide those nutritious meals. A lunch and a breakfast are awesome,” said Felisa Durr, president and CEO of the Tri-County Urban League.
At the Tri-County Urban League, meals are available for the 25 teens enrolled in its summer youth employment and enrichment program. Teens spend their summer learning job skills, leadership, and financial literacy while receiving meals each day.
“We don’t want our kids to be missing meals. We want to make sure that they get a nutritious meal. And this is our way to help that out,” said Durr.
At the Peoria Friendship House, more than 170 children in summer camp are receiving free meals. Leaders there said access to food helps kids stay active, engaged, and focused.
“I think it’s so powerful when it comes to the nutritious side, when it comes to just the essential side of having something that gives you energy or gives you the ability just to move, right? We can’t move through life without eating,” said Friendship House President and CEO Marcellus Sommerville.
For families not enrolled in a summer program, PPS offers free on-site meals at Richwoods, Peoria, and Manual high schools, as well as the Multicultural Dual Language Academy. Any child can eat for free as long as they eat on site.
“If it can help alleviate the burden of breakfast or lunch for a family, I think we all should be partaking in how to make sure that every kid who needs such service receives it,” said Sommerville.
The Tri-County Urban League’s daycare center will also participate in the free meal program once it opens up later this summer.
For a full list of free meal locations, click here.
Comments