Children who receive free and reduced price lunches at school often lack access to food during the summer. Once the school year ends, our Lunch Bus routes begin and summer meal sites open. This program aims to reach children in convenient neighborhood sites such as libraries, parks and community centers, ensuring their access to nutritious food.
Summer Meals
Since 2004 the Greater Chicago Food Depository has been distributing nutritious meals during the summer months to anyone under 18 years old in priority communities in Cook County. In summer 2018, the Food Depository distributed more than 480,000 meals in partnership with more than 245 summer feeding sites.
The Lunch Bus
As a part of our summer response to connect kids to nutritious meals, the Greater Chicago Food Depository launched a mobile summer meal program in June 2010. We distribute free nutritious lunches to anyone 18 years old and under in priority communities in Cook County during the summer months.
- The Lunch Bus travels to 24 sites on four routes throughout Chicago and the suburbs every summer weekday.
- The Lunch Bus provides approximately 2,700 meals every week.
- In summer 2018, the Lunch Bus distributed more than 27,000 meals.
- Lunch Bus meals are reimbursed by the Summer Food Service Program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In addition to Lunch Bus sites, summer meal programs operate in locations throughout Cook County. Find summer meal sites using the USDA’s map. This map displays all approved summer meals sites from all sponsors.