BLOOMINGTON – Beginning on Wednesday, May 22, children ages 18 and younger will be able to get a free healthy meal in Bloomington.
The Community Kitchen of Monroe County and Monroe County Community School Corp. will serve the meals.
Free lunches will be offered at the Community Kitchen locations from May 22 through August 6. From June 3 to July 18, free breakfast and lunch will be offered at Templeton Elementary and from June 3 to 27 at Fairview Elementary.
Community Kitchen Lunches
Lunches will have fresh fruit, vegetables, sandwiches or wraps, milk or juice, and a snack. The USDA requires youth to receive the same five components every day: protein, whole grain, two fruits or vegetables, and milk
Community Kitchen lunches will be served at the following locations and times:
Route 1 (Monday-Friday)
- 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Dorothy Apartments (near office)
- 10:55 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Southcrest Estates (near mailboxes)
- 11:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Henderson Court Apartments (at the playground)
- 11:40 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. Walnut Woods (across from playground)
- 12:10 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. Trailview (near circle)
- 12:35 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. The Reserve at Chandler’s Glen (picnic shelter)
- 12:55 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Arlington Valley Mobile Home Park (behind office)
Route 2 (Monday-Friday)
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Crestmont Community (Illinois Court at the playground)
- 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Highland Park Elementary (playground)
- 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Limestone Crossing (playground)
- 12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Country View Apartments (playground)
MCCSC breakfast and lunches
MCCSC will serve breakfast and lunches at two locations:
Templeton Elementary Cafeteria, Monday-Thursday from June 3-July 18 (closed June 19 and July 4)
- 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. breakfast
- 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. lunch
Fairview Elementary Cafeteria, Monday-Thursday from June 3-27 (closed June 19)
- 9:15- a.m. – 9:45 a.m. breakfast
- 12:45-1:15 p.m. lunch
State regulations require meals to be consumed on-site.
According to Tim Clougher, assistant director at the food kitchen, last year, the summer program served 5,328 lunches, 758 breakfasts, and more than 3,000 snacks. That total doesn’t include the number of youth who showed up to get a free meal but didn’t eat it at the site. In order to be recorded and for the USDA to reimburse the cost of the meal, it must be eaten where it is served.
