Du Quoin summer food program opens at 4 sites

Du Quoin Unit District 300 opened its Summer Food Service Program this week at multiple sites around the city.

Meals will continue to be served every weekday through July 30.

Hot meals are being served only at Du Quoin Elementary School, while "Grab and Go" meals in a bag are being offered at the elementary school and three mobile sites: Perry County Housing; Keyes Park and the Du Quoin City Pool.

All meals are free to ages 0-18, while adults can eat for $1 for breakfast and $2 for lunch. Members of the public are invited; you do not have to have children in the school system to be eligible.

More than 750 children in District 300 receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, but many of these children do not get enough to eat when school is out. District 300 is making sure that no children in Du Quoin go hungry.

"Our responsibility to kids doesn't end when school lets out," said Cory Robbins, District 300 business manager. "Children who get enough to eat and have safe activities to participate in during the summer are less likely to get into trouble.

"Our summer meals program is a building block in the community for healthy, happy kids who are ready to learn."

The Summer Food Service Program for Children is a federally funded program operated nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered statewide by the Illinois State Board of Education. It is the largest federal resource available for local programs that combine meal time with recreational and educational activities.

"Statewide, only a small percentage of the millions of children who qualify have access to local Summer Food Sites," Robbins said. Du Quoin, he added, has participated in the program for 27 years and last year alone served more than 10,000 free meals.

Eligible sponsors such as nonprofit organizations, schools and local governments serve nutritious meals and snacks free to low-income children during the summer months. Summer programs are located at approved sites that are either in low-income areas or serve a group of children, most of whom are low-income.

"This has been a very successful program for the last 27 years, serving over 200 children a day breakfast and/or lunch," Robbins added. "It's one of the most important things we do here in our district and it's been a personal honor for me to have been involved with the program for the last 20 years."

In the first week of the program, typically more than 1,200 meals are served, he said.

The Summer Food Service Program is available to all children regardless of income, race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Besides Robbins, District Food Services Supervisor Donna Lively has served as the Summer Food Service Program Supervisor since taking over that role three years ago. District 300 cooks prepare the summer meals as well.

Hot meals

Du Quoin Elementary/Middle School, 845 E. Jackson St. Breakfast, 8-9 a.m.; lunch, noon-1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch "Grab and Go" bags available 9-11 a.m.

Mobile sites

Serving breakfast/lunch "Grab and Go" bags only

Perry County Housing, 519 N. Walnut St. Open 10-10:30 a.m.

Du Quoin City Pool, 640 W. Park St. Open 10:45-11:15 a.m.

Keyes Park, 136 N. Division St. Open 11:30 a.m.-noon

Need more information? Call Cory Robbins at (618) 542-3856.