Centenary United Methodist Church starts free kids lunch program Monday

Children in Jacksonville lost regular school breakfasts and lunches when Jacksonville School District 117 ended classes May 26, and Centenary United Methodist Church moved to fill part of that summer gap with a free lunch program for kids at its downtown church.

The church began serving Monday at 331 E State St., giving parents a no-cost midday meal option just as summer schedules began to stretch household budgets. The effort matters because summer hunger can surface quickly once school is out, especially for families that rely on school cafeterias to keep children fed during the week.

The wider need is clear across Illinois. The Illinois State Board of Education says the Summer Food Service Program was created to provide nutritious meals to children during months when school is not in session. The United States Department of Agriculture says free summer meals and snacks are available at participating sites for children ages 18 and under, with no application needed.

Feeding America estimates Illinois’ food insecurity rate at 13.1% in 2023, and its Illinois hunger profile says 419,180 children in the state are facing hunger. For families trying to bridge the weeks between the last school bell and the return of fall classes, that means a simple lunch can make the difference between a stressful day and a manageable one.

Illinois also offers Summer EBT, known as SUN Bucks, which provides a one-time $120 grocery benefit per eligible school-aged child while school is not in session. Together with church-based meals, the program gives families more than one way to cover summer food costs without waiting for school to reopen.

Centenary United Methodist Church, which sits at 331 E State St. in Jacksonville, is listed in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference directory with pastors Kevin Hinkle and Erik Slingerland. Its online calendar already includes community ministries such as Meals on Wheels, showing the lunch program fits into an established pattern of practical service in Morgan County rather than a one-time gesture.