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Summer lunch program keeps kids active

Children giggle and squirm waiting to open the red and white box.  Inside, the children find a peach, carrots, chocolate milk, and a turkey sandwich.  The meals are provided at 26 sites around the Rockford-area.  

For many children who receive free or reduced-priced meals throughout the school year, the summer food program ensures they have proper nutrition during the hottest times of the year.

Joe Leach is the Director of Youth Services at Ken-Rock Community Center in Rockford. He says the meals help the center keep costs down.

"They deliver a lunch and a snack and it’s a nutritious, well-balanced meal that probably saves the center about $7,000 every summer. Without it, we would have to raise the fees of course, meaning most families wouldn’t be able to afford it.” Joe Leach, Ken-Rock Community Center

The federally funded program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The City of Rockford Human Services Department manages the program locally.

2012  Summer Food Site List

Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 W. Bethany Road, Sycamore

Beattie Playground, 1221 Rural Street, Rockford

Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club, 330 15th Ave., Rockford

Booker Washington, 524 Kent Street, Rockford

Churchill Park, 2002 7th Ave., Rockford

Fairgrounds Valley, 1015 W. Jefferson Street, Rockford

First Evangelical Covenant Church, 316 Wood Street, Rockford

Flodin Boys and Girls Club, 1000 Mill Road, Rockford

Ken-Rock Community Center, 3218 11th Street, Rockford

Keye Mallquist Park, 1702 11th Street, Rockford

Morning Star Baptist Church, 714 3rd Avenue, Rockford

New Zion Baptist Church, 604 Salter Avenue, Rockford

Northwest Community Center, 1325 N. Johnston Avenue, Rockford

Orton Keyes Community Center, 633 Ranger Street, Rockford

Patriots Gateway Center, 615 S. 5th Street, Rockford

RESA Youth and Teen Program (Rockford Park District), 1800 Ogilby Road, Rockford

Rock Valley College-Upward Bound, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford

Rockford Boys and Girls-2nd Congregational Church, 318 N. Church Street Rockford

Rockford Park District-Lewis Lemon, 1993 Mulberry Street, Rockford

Salvation Army, 210 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford

St. Elizabeth Community Center, 1536 S. Main Street, Rockford

St. Paul Church of God in Christ, 1001 Bishop Washington, Rockford

Washington Park Rec. Center, 3617 Delaware, Rockford

YMCA-Camp Winnebago, 5804 N. Main Street Rockford

Northeast Family YMCA, 8451 Orth Road, Loves Park

YMCA-Teen Reach at West Middle School, 1900 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford