{"id":12470,"date":"2023-05-31T17:26:45","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T17:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/?page_id=12470"},"modified":"2025-03-19T18:58:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:58:01","slug":"what-we-do","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/what-we-do\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT WE DO"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"12470\" class=\"elementor elementor-12470\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a6b21d9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a6b21d9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b127906\" data-id=\"5b127906\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77c6294a elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"77c6294a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#schoolmeals\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-school\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">School Meals<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e6d62eb\" data-id=\"3e6d62eb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cfaf7e8 elementor-button-info elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2cfaf7e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#summermeals\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-sun\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Summer Meals<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-34e4c0c5\" data-id=\"34e4c0c5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f733076 elementor-button-warning elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2f733076\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#afterschoolmeals\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-home\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Afterschool Meals<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b77a5c9\" data-id=\"2b77a5c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54ffc4ec elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"54ffc4ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#snap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-shopping-bag\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">SNAP<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4d2eff1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4d2eff1a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e9d0efa\" data-id=\"3e9d0efa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-589169d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"589169d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h1>School Meals<\/h1><p>Schools are at the center of our communities and our kids\u2019 lives. That\u2019s why school meal programs are at the heart of No Kid Hungry\u2019s work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6071b00 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6071b00\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26d20285\" data-id=\"26d20285\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-33418fb2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"33418fb2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-440ed589\" data-id=\"440ed589\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-295365c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"295365c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>School Breakfast<\/h2><p><span style=\"color: #1f1f1f;font-family: 'Gotham Book';font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400\">Every day, students in Illinois<\/span><span style=\"color: #1f1f1f;font-family: 'Gotham Book';font-size: 16px;font-weight: 400\">\u00a0start their school day on an empty stomach. It\u2019s hard for them to focus and learn, which is why it\u2019s critical for them to start their day off right with a healthy breakfast. The School Breakfast Program, created in 1975 is a federally-funded program operated by school districts across the country to facilitate making a balanced breakfast more accessible for all students.<\/span><\/p><div><p>Participation by traditional school breakfast can be hindered by many factors, including:\u00a0<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Transportation:<\/strong> The school bus doesn\u2019t arrive with enough time for students to get breakfast in the cafeteria and eat it before school starts.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Stigma:<\/strong> Particularly in middle and high school students, there is often a stigma associated with eating breakfast in the cafeteria and students will avoid it to ensure they aren\u2019t perceived negatively by their peers.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Lack of resources:<\/strong> For low-income families, sometimes there may not be enough food at home for a healthy breakfast.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Busy mornings:<\/strong> Regardless of income, many families are rushed in the morning and don\u2019t have time to eat breakfast at home.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-43fb1ee9\" data-id=\"43fb1ee9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d9bb63d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1d9bb63d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fca6737 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"fca6737\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-number-wrapper{display:flex;font-size:69px;font-weight:600;line-height:1}.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-number-prefix,.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-number-suffix{flex-grow:1;white-space:pre-wrap}.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-number-prefix{text-align:right}.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-number-suffix{text-align:left}.elementor-counter .elementor-counter-title{text-align:center;font-size:19px;font-weight:400;line-height:2.5}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"50\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">%<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f09cc5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f09cc5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">of students eligible for free or reduced price meals eat <strong>school breakfast<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ff0e4f5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ff0e4f5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9688df3\" data-id=\"9688df3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38af21f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"38af21f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"774\" src=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Breakfast-Colorado-2012-17-e1678738037328-1024x774.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12450\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Breakfast-Colorado-2012-17-e1678738037328-1024x774.png 1024w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Breakfast-Colorado-2012-17-e1678738037328-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Breakfast-Colorado-2012-17-e1678738037328-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Breakfast-Colorado-2012-17-e1678738037328.png 1039w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3a8ed4e\" data-id=\"3a8ed4e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4323d64b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4323d64b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-color: #61ce70;padding: 25px\">\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">Solving the Problem<\/span><\/h3>\nWe know that students who participate in school breakfast achieve higher test scores and attend school more regularly. That\u2019s why we work to increase participation as a part of our strategy to end childhood hunger by incorporating\u00a0<b>Breakfast After the Bell<\/b>. We provide schools with necessary technical expertise and grants, working with them on ways to increase the number of kids by incorporating breakfast as a part of the school day.\n\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff\" href=\"https:\/\/bestpractices.nokidhungry.org\/programs\/school-breakfast\/implement-breakfast-after-the-bell#three-effective-approaches-to-breakfast-after-the-bell\">Learn more<\/a><\/span>\u00a0about breakfast after the bell models like <strong>Breakfast in the Classroom<\/strong>, <strong>Grab and Go<\/strong> and <strong>Second Chance Breakfast.<\/strong>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-605281ed elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"605281ed\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7eb5d6a3\" data-id=\"7eb5d6a3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8b0aa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"c8b0aa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;vimeo&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{height:100%;width:100%;display:flex;border:none;background-color:#000}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%;aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio);-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;-o-object-position:center center;object-position:center center}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<iframe class=\"elementor-video-iframe\" allowfullscreen title=\"vimeo Video Player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/354764426?color&amp;autopause=0&amp;loop=0&amp;muted=0&amp;title=1&amp;portrait=1&amp;byline=1#t=\"><\/iframe>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fd77a9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"2fd77a9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\nbody.elementor-page .elementor-widget-menu-anchor{margin-bottom:0}<\/style>\t\t<div id=\"summermeals\" class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4dc89bb6 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4dc89bb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-bottom:0;flex-grow:1;border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-160f7bfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"160f7bfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Summer Meals<\/h1><p>During the school year, meals are available to kids through school breakfast and lunch. But during the summer, when schools are out, kids lose critical access to meals. To fill this gap, many local schools and community organizations across Illinois <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">operate summer meal programs to provide food to kids at no cost. Summer meal programs are operated at a local level, overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and administered and funded by the USDA.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a8e9314 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3a8e9314\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b280f01\" data-id=\"3b280f01\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b739238 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b739238\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-color: #fdb917;padding: 25px\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;color: #333333\">Summer meals are:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Available for <strong>any kid or teen up to age 18<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Available at <strong>no cost\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Require <strong>no paperwork, signups,<\/strong> or <strong>eligibility confirmation<\/strong> required<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Fun!<\/strong> Many programs incorporate fun activities like art projects, sports, and science experiments in addition to serving meals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67749bf2\" data-id=\"67749bf2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dce182b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dce182b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Summer-Meals-Montana-Whitefish-Youth-Ambassadors-2021-574-e1678738299850-1024x604.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12451\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Summer-Meals-Montana-Whitefish-Youth-Ambassadors-2021-574-e1678738299850-1024x604.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Summer-Meals-Montana-Whitefish-Youth-Ambassadors-2021-574-e1678738299850-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Summer-Meals-Montana-Whitefish-Youth-Ambassadors-2021-574-e1678738299850-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Summer-Meals-Montana-Whitefish-Youth-Ambassadors-2021-574-e1678738299850.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-443b05ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"443b05ac\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b2ff770\" data-id=\"4b2ff770\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342e4984 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"342e4984\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Barriers<\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summer meals aren\u2019t reaching all the kids who experience food insecurity. <strong>In fact, in Illinois\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><strong>only 11% <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>of students who participate in school lunch during the academic year are also eating summer meals.<\/strong> Without reliable sources of healthy food throughout the summer, more kids who live in families experiencing financial hardship are at risk of returning to school further behind academically, which can have exponential ramifications year after year.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-575c10d9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"575c10d9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f571f74\" data-id=\"4f571f74\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47b461f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47b461f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background-color: #63c8cc;padding: 25px\"><p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">One of the main barriers to participation in Summer Meals is because kids and families simply don\u2019t know they exist! To help combat this every year, No Kid Hungry runs a free texting service that helps connect families with meals in their neighborhoods.<\/span><\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">Parents and caregivers simply text the word \u201cFOOD\u201d or \u201cCOMIDA\u201d to 304-304 to see nearby meal locations.<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7e7dcd8c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7e7dcd8c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4035b51e\" data-id=\"4035b51e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71519673 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71519673\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another reason for low summer meal participation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0in Illinois is limited transportation. In both rural and urban areas, if parents work during the day, there may be no way for children to get to the locations where meals and activities happen. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve made it one of our top priorities to support <strong>non-congregate meal service<\/strong> wherever possible.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4e322311 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4e322311\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-333e4030\" data-id=\"333e4030\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ebe097f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ebe097f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Solving the Problem<\/h3><p>No Kid Hungry Illinois has joined communities across the state who are offering summer meals to provide support, guidance, and funding to ensure kids have access to needed food when school is out.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1cece998 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1cece998\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2f01e923\" data-id=\"2f01e923\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36ab5977 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"36ab5977\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"afterschoolmeals\" class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-360dfaf9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"360dfaf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62b55af9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62b55af9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Afterschool Meals<\/h1>\n<p>Afterschool meal and snack programs allow educational and enrichment programs to provide kids with the nutrition they need. We are&nbsp;committed to supporting existing programs, increasing participation and making meals available year-round.<\/p>\n<p>There are two federal programs that support feeding kids after the school day ends, the Child and Adult Care Food Program At-Risk Afterschool program and through a snack component of the National School Lunch Program for school districts. <a href=\"http:\/\/bestpractices.nokidhungry.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-07\/NSLP%20Snack-CACFP%20Meals%20Comparison_06-21.pdf\">Click here<\/a> to learn more about the differences between these programs.&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63933b57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63933b57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"background-color: #fdb917;padding: 25px\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333333\">For many kids, afterschool meals may be the only source of nutrition a child receives before breakfast the next day. Both school districts and community organizations play a critical role in ensuring kids receive both enrichment and food after the school day ends.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1f66e0d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1f66e0d4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fbb8434\" data-id=\"3fbb8434\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d2f750 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d2f750\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Solving the Problem<\/h3><p>We are committed to spreading awareness and supporting program sponsors operating afterschool meal programs to support kids with the nutrition they need to stay full and focused after the final bell rings.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are interested in learning more about starting or growing an afterschool program, please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/resources\/\">Resources<\/a> page!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d0e771\" data-id=\"7d0e771\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5635797d elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5635797d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Afterschool-Meals-North-Carolina-South-Rowan-High-School-2019-207-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12452\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Afterschool-Meals-North-Carolina-South-Rowan-High-School-2019-207-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Afterschool-Meals-North-Carolina-South-Rowan-High-School-2019-207-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Afterschool-Meals-North-Carolina-South-Rowan-High-School-2019-207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/Afterschool-Meals-North-Carolina-South-Rowan-High-School-2019-207.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-585ce876 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"585ce876\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-168b226a\" data-id=\"168b226a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28553379 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"28553379\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"snap\" class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d8e449b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1d8e449b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17eaf37 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17eaf37\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1bc6d6ba\" data-id=\"1bc6d6ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70dbce50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70dbce50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>SNAP<\/h1><p>The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) \u00a0is the largest federal nutrition program in the United States, feeding roughly 40 million people each year. <strong>It is also the largest child anti-hunger program, with nearly half of SNAP recipients being children and two-thirds of SNAP benefits going to households with children.<\/strong> SNAP provides monthly benefits to help support family\u2019s food budgets to ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-407963c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"407963c2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b9da6a5\" data-id=\"4b9da6a5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b19d65c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b19d65c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Barriers<\/h3><p>When kids are enrolled in SNAP, they get the food they need to succeed both at home and at school, but many eligible families may not know they qualify or how to sign up. Any household (defined as a family, an individual, or any combination) that purchases food and prepares meals together may qualify for assistance depending on combined income.<\/p><p>Citizens of the United States or non-citizens who are legally residing in the U.S. are eligible to apply for benefits. Non-citizen parents may be able to receive benefits for their children if they are citizens as well. To learn more about benefits and eligibility, we encourage you to visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.state.il.us\/page.aspx?item=33698\">Illinois Department of Human Services website<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2540a61f\" data-id=\"2540a61f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-521a10b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"521a10b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dd9848a elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"2dd9848a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"50\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">%<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-664165f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"664165f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">of families eligible for SNAP are enrolled in the program.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3d6ea33f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3d6ea33f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4efee\" data-id=\"a4efee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cc88036 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cc88036\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"background-color: #ee688c;padding: 25px\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff\">It\u2019s important to note that public charge rules DO NOT apply to programs like SNAP, Pandemic EBT, WIC, and school meal programs. Participating in one or more of these programs will not affect an individual&#8217;s immigration status or chances of receiving legal permanent residency in the future. \n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c2e4f7e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c2e4f7e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-309d518c\" data-id=\"309d518c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a57dbad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a57dbad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Solving the Problem<\/h3><h4 style=\"font-size: 16px\">Outreach and Advocacy<\/h4><p>Raising awareness about SNAP and providing needed support during the application process is crucial in ensuring families and children have adequate resources needed to thrive.<\/p><p>By addressing common barriers to SNAP access through outreach and assistance, we\u2019re ensuring more people who already qualify have the information they need to apply and receive benefits.<\/p><p>One way to do this is by supporting SNAP outreach through schools.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-91d920c\" data-id=\"91d920c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67b02327 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67b02327\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/CP-Kids-and-Parents-1-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-12453\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/CP-Kids-and-Parents-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/CP-Kids-and-Parents-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/CP-Kids-and-Parents-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2023\/05\/CP-Kids-and-Parents-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f5527d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f5527d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 16px\">SNAP in Schools<\/h4><p>School districts can play an important role in supporting access to SNAP as a trusted information source for students, parents and caregivers. An added benefit is that increasing SNAP access supports the whole school community and helps schools!<\/p><p>Increasing SNAP access for eligible families helps to:<\/p><ul><li>Directly certify more children for free meals while boosting school nutrition revenue<\/li><li>Securing money for education programs and supports like libraries and internet access<\/li><li>Improving student education outcomes<\/li><li>Providing more resources for families and communities, like discounted internet services and identifying areas eligible for community-wide afterschool and summer meal programs.<\/li><li>Become eligible for and increase revenue potential in the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to offer free school meals for all students.<\/li><\/ul><p>For more information on SNAP and how you can support, please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/illinois\/resources\/\">Resources<\/a> page!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e8d4b5c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e8d4b5c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43e5e553\" data-id=\"43e5e553\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2234a389 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2234a389\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>School Meals Summer Meals Afterschool Meals SNAP School Meals Schools are at the center of our communities and our kids\u2019 lives. That\u2019s why school meal programs are at the heart&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12470","page","type-page","status-publish"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>WHAT WE DO - ILLINOIS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nkh-state-nkh-state.pantheonsite.io\/illinois\/what-we-do\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WHAT WE DO - ILLINOIS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"School Meals Summer Meals Afterschool Meals SNAP School Meals Schools are at the center of our communities and our kids\u2019 lives. 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