When the final bell rings at Brentano Elementary, 12-year-old Noah Powers always has something to look forward to. For the past two years, Powers has been attending the after-school program at the Salvation Army Freedom Center in West Humboldt Park. It’s a place where he can play football or basketball with friends, try his hand at cooking classes and, just as importantly, enjoy a meal.
“I like all the meals we get here,” Powers said with a grin, finishing off his snack of cheese and crackers. “My favorite is the pizza. And the food gives me energy so I can do things like play football.”
Noah Powers enjoys a snack at the Salvation Army Freedom Center after school. (Photos by Nancy Stone for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)
The Freedom Center’s after-school program serves nearly 100 children between the ages of 5 and 18. For kids like Powers, the program is more than a safe place to spend the afternoon, it’s also a reliable source of nutritious food. Through a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, every child receives a healthy snack and dinner during the program. For families facing tight budgets and packed schedules, that support makes a difference.
A community anchor on the West side
“Most of the kids in our program come from nearby schools, and their parents are working and low-income,” said program coordinator Jaegen Ellison. “They tell us all the time how helpful it is to know their kids are cared for and fed here. It takes a huge weight off their shoulders.”
On any given afternoon, children crowd into the gym to play basketball, gather around tables for arts and crafts, or settle into homework help sessions. Before long, everyone pauses for snack time. Later, as parents finish their workdays, the kids sit down to a full meal.
Program coordinator Jaegen Ellison checks in with students during after-school activities at the Freedom Center, where children receive support, enrichment and meals.
“For us, having the Food Depository as a partner is huge,” Ellison said. “It would be really difficult for our staff to cook meals for up to 100 kids every day. With the meals provided, we can focus on helping them learn, play and grow.”
In addition to the after-school program, the Freedom Center offers a wide range of services for the community, including a homeless shelter, an adult rehabilitation program, workforce development and emergency assistance. Families can also access counseling and case management, while children benefit from structured sports, tutoring and creative programs.
Feeding kids after school
The Freedom Center hosts one of dozens of after-school programs across Cook County that partner with the Food Depository to provide meals for children. Through funding from the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Food Depository supplies nutritious meals and snacks to schools, community centers, libraries and churches, ensuring kids have something to eat in the critical hours between school and bedtime.
The Salvation Army Freedom Center in West Humboldt Park is a community hub offering after-school programs, meals and family support services.
Food is foundational for learning and growth. Research shows that children who have consistent access to nutritious meals are more likely to do better in school, have higher energy levels and develop healthy habits for life.
Every weekday during the school year, participating programs receive ready-to-serve snacks and dinners from the Food Depository. Menus often include fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, milk and kid favorites like pasta, pizza and burgers. In the last year alone, the Food Depository and our partners served more than 300,000 after-school meals across Cook County.
Nourishment for the youngest learners
Dior Morrison, 5, a kindergartener at Polaris Elementary whose favorite subject is math, has been attending the program for a month.
Kindergartener Dior Morrison enjoys a healthy snack at the Freedom Center, where children have access to fresh fruits, dairy and other nutritious foods.
“My favorite food is strawberries and bananas,” she said. “And I really like yogurt and crackers and cheese,” she added, holding up her snack plate with a smile.
The Food Depository ensures that fresh produce is a regular part of meals. For many children, it’s a chance to try fruits and vegetables they may not always have at home. Fresh produce provides essential nutrients that support healthy growth and development – and because it can be expensive at the grocery store, these meals help make it more accessible to families.
Serenity Castro sips on a refreshing juice as part of a balanced after-school meal, helping her stay energized for activities and learning.
For 8-year-old Serenity Castro, who loves taking art classes at the Freedom Center, the meals have sparked new tastes and curiosity. “I didn’t used to like fruit that much,” she said. “But we eat it so much here that now I like it.” Stories like hers show how small exposures to nutritious foods can build healthy habits that last.
Fuel for brighter futures
At the Freedom Center, staff and parents see the impact every day. Parents know that when they pick up their children, they’ve been well taken care of and served nutritious food. For many working families, that peace of mind is invaluable.
Together, the Food Depository and the Freedom Center are helping ensure that kids in West Humboldt Park have what they need to learn, grow and thrive.
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