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Free Summer Meals

Free Summer Meals

Beginning Monday, June 10, the City of Evanston's Parks, Recreation and Community Service Department will provide free breakfasts and lunches to youth ages 1 to 18 years old throughout Evanston as part of the Summer Food Program. The program will run through Friday, August 9.

Free meals are available to all youth daily, Monday through Friday, on a first-come, first-served basis. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. View the menus for breakfast and lunch (English and Spanish).

There are no residency or income-based restrictions to participate in the program. All meals must be eaten on-site and guardians must accompany young children.

Meal site locations (June 10 - August 9)

  • Dewey Elementary School, 1551 Wesley Ave.
  • Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.
  • Mason Park, Church Street at Florence Avenue
  • Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St.
  • Dawes Elementary, 440 Dodge Ave.

Two additional sites will be added June 10-July 19:

  • Kingsley Elementary School, 2300 Green Bay Road
  • Oakton Elementary School, 436 Ridge Ave.

The Summer Food Service Program is funded by a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education. 

For more information, visit the City of Evanston’s website or call/text 847-448-8254. Residents in Evanston may simply dial 3-1-1.

SUN Bucks: Free Money for Summer Meals

Additionally, we are excited to share information about a new summer benefit program from the United States Department of Agriculture called SUN Bucks. SUN Bucks will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) later this summer.

This means free money for meals for your child(ren) this summer!

If your student is already approved for Free or Reduced lunch, your child will be automatically enrolled in the SUN Bucks program. You do NOT need to fill out an application. You will get a card in the mail (likely in August) sent to the address on file with District 65.

  • Please check your address on file by logging into PowerSchool. Support is available on our PowerSchool webpage.
  • If you are unsure whether you filled out an application, please reach out to our Nutrition Services team.

If you feel you may qualify but have not completed a Free/Reduced Price Meal Application with District 65, visit the DHS website for information.

More information (English)
More information (Spanish)