All Aurora Youth Can Grab Free Meals At Local Parks This Summer

AURORA, IL — Now that school is out, a local food pantry is making sure Aurora youth will continue to have free, nutritious meals throughout the summer.

The Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank returns June 5 through Aug. 11 with its annual Meals on the Move program for children 18 and younger.

Each weekday, boxed meals will be distributed at four Aurora parks between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Below is the schedule for pickup.

• 11 a.m. to noon — Phillips Park Visitors Center, 1000 Ray Moses Drive
• 11 a.m. to noon — Garfield Park playground, 825 Sheffer Road
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. — McCarty Park, 350 E. Galena Blvd.
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. — Plum Park, 337 Plum St.

To help keep kids fed during the weekend, Meals on the Move will distribute lunches on Fridays at each of the four parks. Through Friday Fresh Mart, kids can pick up snacks, as well as a small variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, to have for Saturday and Sunday.

Youth don't have to register for the meals or show identification at pick up, but Aurora officials said weekday meals have to be eaten on site.