A cooperative program is bringing free lunches to youths in six Aurora parks this summer.
Meals on the Move is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, and is being administered by the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
According to the food bank, its van “visits different park sites to offer free and nutritious boxed lunches to youth in convenient locations.”
The program runs from June 11 through Aug. 10, and the van visits the parks Monday through Friday. The parks and the times the van visits are: from 11 to 11:30 a.m., Lebanon Park, Parker and Douglas avenues; from noon to 12:30 p.m., McCarty Park, New York Street and Park Place; from 1:30 to 2 p.m., Blackhawk Park, Blackhawk Street and Galena Boulevard; from 2:30 to 3 p.m., Arrow Wood Park, Commonwealth Drive and Golden Oaks Street; and 3:30 to 4 p.m., Copley 2 Park, at the end of Beach Street.
The van also stops from 3 to 4 p.m. at William V. Plum Park, Grand Avenue and Plum Street, on Thursdays only.
While the federal government is funding the program, and the food bank is administering it, the Fox Valley Park District, Aurora Public Library and the city of Aurora’ Innovation Department also have taken part in organizing the program.
The Park District is bringing its Neighborhood Art Program to some of the parks during the lunch period. The program will be: from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Thursdays, at Lebanon Park; from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesdays, at Arrow Wood Park; and from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesdays, at Copley 2 Park.
The Aurora Public Library’s bookmobile will meet up with Meals on the Move from 1 to 2 p.m., Fridays, at Blackhawk Park, and from 3 to 4 p.m., Thursdays, at Plum Park.
The program has a Facebook page, under the name Meals on the Move, that updates any daily changes or possible weather-related changes.
