Northern Illinois Food Bank helps out Rockford families with free meals for children

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The Northern Illinois Food Bank partners with the Rockford Park District and other organizations to give away free meals to local children.

The food bank is giving away 7,000 meals a day to local children between breakfast and lunch. All kids need to do is show up and eat on-site, no identification is necessary.

“The Northern Illinois Food Bank’s objective is to make sure we’re fighting food insecurity. And we know food insecurity starts from the ground level up, so childhood hunger is an issue that is very near and dear to our hearts and so we want to make sure that we’re addressing that food insecurity,” said Northern Illinois Food Bank Senior Manager Melinda Craigs-Ingram.

Kids can also spend time after their meal hanging out at the camp hosted by Rockford Park District. Donna Henderson, the Director of the Lewis Lemon Elementary School site, wants kids to know this isn’t summer school even if there is some learning involved.

“We keep them busy, and we keep their minds busy and learning. We do art, reading, they have a game room, we do recess, and Friday we do movies,” said Henderson.

To find a full list of sites, text “Food” or “Comida” to 304304, visit, www.solvehungertoday.org/child-nutrition-programs, or call (800) 359-2163.

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