A non-profit says it's seeing more demand for summer meals for low-income students in Illinois. When class is in session, students in poor districts can rely on free or reduced lunches to make sure they are getting the right amount of healthy food to stay focused on their studies.
But during the summer, it can be a different story. These kids face the possibility of going hungry. And when they do get their hands on something to eat, chances are it's something with little nutritional value.
Groups like the Illinois Coalition for Community Services are there to try and make sure those kids don't fall through the cracks. The non-profit helps administer summer meals through the program spearheaded by the USDA and the state board of education.
Mike Crews is with the ICCS. He says demand for their services has exploded.
"Three years ago, we had 15 sites. This summer, we're gonna have 53 food sites," Crews said.
Crews says they've been asked by the state board of education to serve more sites. He says that's because other organizations that don't have the ability to raise money while waiting on state funding are struggling to meet the demand in their communities.