Raising Awareness about Available Summer Meal Programs that Combat Child Hunger
CHICAGO — Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky held a press event with 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others to help raise awareness about available resources that can end child hunger.
Attendees also heard about the critical need for summer meal programs from Rich Gorman, a representative from the 48th Ward Summer Food Program, parents of children who participate in the Summer Food Program, and John Pfeiffer, the Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Family & Support Services.
“Fighting against child hunger in our communities is vital because one in every five children in Cook County is at risk of hunger,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky.
“Many children look forward to the summer, but for those who struggle to get enough to eat, it’s the most dangerous time of the year. We must spread the word to parents and families so we can make sure no child goes hungry during the summer months. Together we can end child hunger in our community and throughout Illinois.”
The Congresswoman is also a cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 5012, the Summer Meals Act, which would increase the number of communities eligible for federally-supported summer meal sites, reduce barriers to enrollment in those programs for kids and parents, and allow summer meal sites to serve an additional meal per child each day. Legislation like this would help to end child hunger nationwide.
In the meantime it is very important that local efforts are bolstered.
Alderman Osterman, who hosted the event at his ward’s meal site, firmly believes that the program will be much more successful if more families are aware of the program’s existence.
“We are happy to serve children through our program, and we will keep working to get the word out so that more children can participate in it this summer and in years to come,” said Osterman. “Congresswoman Schakowsky is a great partner in the fight to end child hunger and we will continue to work with her and others, not only to increase the amount of children served at our site, but to help more children to get meals from other sites as well.”
Kate Maehr, the CEO and Executive Director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, noted the significance of building support for these necessary programs.
“During the summer, the top priority of the Greater Chicago Food Depository is to ensure children have the food they need to grow up healthy, smart and strong,” said Maehr. “In order to do that, it’s important to coordinate with public and private partners to raise awareness for summer meal programs. We’re pleased to join Congresswoman Schakowsky in that effort.”
Here are some more facts and resources regarding summer meal sites:
- In the 9th Congressional District, nearly 30,000 children are food insecure.
- Yet in the District there are 90 summer meal programs for children – and 43 of them require no registration or sign up.
- Nearly 90 percent of low-income children who receive free and reduced lunch during the school year in Cook County don’t get summer meals.
- To get more information about local meal sites people can text FOODIL to 877877.
- People can alsovisitwww.chicagosfoodbank.org or www.summerfeedingillinois.org to find meal sites or donate to them.