All Aurora Youth Eligible For Free Daily Meals This Summer, City Says

AURORA, IL — This summer, all children and teenagers in Aurora will have access to free, nutritious meals daily starting Monday and going through Aug. 12, city officials announced.

The free meals, made possible by the United States Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program, are distributed to everyone ages 18 and younger by Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank's Meals on the Move program.

Kids 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. Lunches will vary this summer, but the menu includes meals such as ham and cheese on a roll, walking tacos, bagels and flatbread pizza.

Each day, boxed meals will be distributed at four Aurora parks between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Below is the schedule for pickup, Monday through Friday.

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — McCarty Park, 350 E. Galena Boulevard
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Phillips Park, Ray Moses Drive
• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Blackhawk Park, 101 W. Illinois Ave.
• 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Greene Field Park, 630 N. Russell Ave.

To help keep kids fed during the weekend, Meals on the Move will distribute non-perishable 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.

Northern Illinois Food Bank isn't the only organization providing free meals to youth this summer. East Aurora School District 131 is offering free breakfast and lunch to students between June 13 to July 7.

RELATED: District 131 To Offer Free Meals To Students This Summer