The Illinois State Board of Education is looking for school districts, local government entities and nonprofits to host the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture program provides free meals and snacks to low-income children through age 18 when schools are on break. Summer food programs typically operate from June through August but can start as early as May and go into September.

State board officials say sites must be located in areas where a majority of children served are eligible for free and reduced-price meals from the National School Lunch Program, or the family's income falls within federal poverty guidelines.

About 1,700 summer food service program sites offered free meals last summer to children throughout Illinois.

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