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Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff |
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Illinois Loses Millions When Students Don't Get Free Lunches
Produced by Natalie Moore on Tuesday, July 07, 2009
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Illinois is losing out on millions of federal dollars because not enough students participate in the free lunch program during the summer. The report came from the Washington, D.C.-based Food Research and Action Center.
For every 100 Illinois students who receive a free lunch during the school year, only 16 participate in the summer.
The state would receive $10 million if participation increased just 40 percent.
Diane Doherty is executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition.
DOHERTY: The summer months are a really tough time for families and we know what this economy is like. We are experiencing one of the worst deficits at the state level and yet we’re walking away from federal money.
Doherty made her remarks at Chavez Elementary in the Chicago Back of the Yards neighborhood. The school is a food site that opens it doors in the summer. The coalition is pushing for more neighborhood sites.
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