Illinois seeking sites for summer meals programs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois State Board of Education is seeking sponsors and sites for summer food programs.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith urged school administrators Friday to spread the word about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's summer food program.

School districts, local governments and nonprofits can all sponsor summer food sites, housing the sites at schools, parks, recreation centers, housing projects, migrant centers, churches, summer camps and other locations.

Participation continues to increase, but still falls short of the meals served during the school year. During the summer of 2014, Illinois program sites served meals to more than 107,000 children. That was about 15 percent of the children who received free or reduced-priced meals during the preceding school year.