Elgin agencies offer lunch program

With unemployment in Elgin nearing 14 percent, service agencies are looking for new and creative ways to help the neediest of people in need: children.

In a first for Elgin, officials on Thursday announced a free summer lunch program for kids 17 and younger that will begin Monday and run through Aug. 22.

"In these tough economic times, we felt we needed to do something more, we needed to do something different," said Major Ken Nicolai of the Salvation Army in Elgin.

Randy Roepelle, director the Elgin's Recreation Department, said the program will start out with 50 meals at 13 locations for a total of 650 per day.

The city of Elgin will lend its facilities, such as parks, and groups like the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Salvation Army and churches will provide staffing, transportation and cleanup services.

This will account for the remaining 20 percent cost of the program not covered by the federal reimbursement of $3.13 per meal.

Andrea Lutz, the food bank's youth nutrition manager, said organizers are prepared to serve up to 1,500 meals per day.

"There are children in need and we're willing to do whatever we can," Lutz said. "We're absolutely thrilled to do this."

There is no minimum income requirement and kids do not have to show ID.

Lunches won't be hot dogs and potato chips; one recent meal consisted of roast beef with cheese on wheat bread, watermelon, celery and 1 percent milk.

The locations for the Children's Summer Nutrition Program are: Bethesda Church, 453 Freemon St.; Drake Field, 701 Hastings St.; Eastside Recreation Center, 1080 E. Chicago St.; Mision Apostolica de la fe en Cristo Jesus, 660 Villa St.; Salvation Army, 316 Douglas Ave.; an apartment complex at 85 S. Crystal St.; Buena Vista, 1285 Fleetwood Drive; Clifford Owasco Park, 825 Clifford St.; Cornerstone Park, 1540 Mulberry Lane; Gifford Elementary School, 240 S. Clifton Ave., Grolich Park, 51 Souster Ave., Elgin Community Church, 991 Deborah Ave., and Wing Park, 1010 Wing St.

Lunches will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Although there is a two-hour window, noon is probably the best time to show up.

For details, call (847) 741-2304.