The Community Action Agency of Winnebago and Boone County is offering their Summer Food Service Program five days a week to kids aged 2-18. It's a federally funded program through the USDA and the purpose is to provide children with no-cost nutritional meals.
Delicia Harris is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Rockford Community Action Agency. She said "Summer Foods" has been around for more than 30 years. She's been with the agency for 13 of those.
The meals include a lunch and a snack. According to Harris, an example might include a chicken wrap with ranch dressing on the side, cup of fresh fruit, a four-ounce juice, an eight-ounce carton of milk, and condiments. All a person has to do to get a lunch is show up at one of the designated sites during the scheduled time.
"We don't ask for ID," said Harris. "We don't ask for any income information or any sort of identifying information."
Because of the pandemic, the staff and volunteers are wearing masks and gloves at what Harris called "grab-and-go" sites. She said families should stay in their cars when they approach the sites.
Once parked, the driver will signal with their hand how many people are in the family and a staffer will place the food in the trunk or back seat of the car, whichever the driver prefers.
"We enjoy providing a service, so come out and go to one of the sites, grab some meals, take a load off," Harris said. "You don't have to prepare lunch -- school is out so enjoy yourself."
Harris stressed that Summer Foods is an essential service. "Without it, some of our most vulnerable population will go hungry -- and that's kids," she said. "Kids aren't self sufficient. They are not in a position where they can feed themselves. They don't have income. They don't have jobs."
Here is a list of current sites with some schedules.
Winnebago County Sites
Community Action Agency, 612 N. Churc St. from 11:15-11:45
St. Elizabeth Community Center, 1536 S. Main St from 12:00-12:30
YMCA - Swedish American Riverfront, 200 Y Blvd. from 11:00-12:15
For the following Rockford and Loves Park sites, contact specific site for details and schedule
Alpine Hills Park, 4402 Larson Ave.
Bloom Playground, 2901 Pelham Rd.
Booker Washington Center, 524 Kent St.
Highland park, 3011 Rural St.
House of Grace, 518 N. Court St.
Keye Mallquist, 1702 11th St.
Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Rd.
Ridge park, 3317 Ridge Ave
Washington Park Recreation Center, 3617 Delaware St.
YMCA (Camp Winnebago) 5804 N. Main St.
Northwest Comm. Cntr., 1325 N. Johnston Ave.
Patriots' Gateway Community Center, 615 S. 5th St.
Loves Park
Wants Park, 600 Clifford Ave
YMCA Northeast Branch, 8451 Orth Rd.
Boone County
Boone County Health Dept., 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:00-12:00.
To find a site, text FOODIL to 877877, visit the summer meals websiteor call 1-800-359-2163. You may also visit the City of Rockford website for updates this and other community services.