Summer Meals program for school children starts Friday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Children in need can get free meals in Chicago and all over Illinois this summer.

It's part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Assistance Program, known as Summer Meals. The program will provide nutritious food and snacks at more the 1,500 locations throughout Illinois and will ensure that children who depend on the food they get at school during the school year are fed during the summer months.

On Friday, the program kicked off at Horner Park at 2741 West Montrose.

Last year, the Summer Meals program served about 5.5 million lunches to children during the summer months.