As the summer winds down, so does a program that has quietly been a lifeline for many Chicago families. The Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) free summer meal program, which began in mid-June, will serve its final breakfasts and lunches of the season this Friday.

Spread across 25 sites in the South and West Sides, the initiative has provided children and teenagers with access to nutritious meals during the weeks when Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) cafeterias were closed. Partnering with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the CHA has aimed to bridge a gap that often leaves families stretched during summer months.

“This program gives families the stability they need when school meals aren’t an option,” the agency said in a statement.

Story Highlights – Read Box

• Last day: Friday

• Coverage: 25 sites across South and West Sides

• Partnership: CHA and Greater Chicago Food Depository

• Meal times: Breakfast 8:30–10:30 a.m., Lunch 12:30–2:30 p.m.

• Capacity: Average 25 kids per meal, up to 50 at some sites

• Next return: Summer 2026

• School year start: Aug. 18 – CPS offers free breakfast and lunch to all students

The format is simple but effective: breakfast is served from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Meals are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. According to CHA figures, each site serves an average of 25 children at each meal, though some locations see as many as 50.

For parents juggling work, childcare, and tight budgets, these meals have eased the strain. “It’s been a relief,” said one South Side parent as she picked up lunch with her two children earlier this week. “In the summer, every little bit helps.”

The CHA confirmed that the program will return next summer. In the meantime, the new CPS school year will begin on Aug. 18, with free breakfast and lunch available to all students during the academic year.

Remaining Meal Sites Through Friday:

Altgeld
13032 S. Greenwood
742 E. 133rd Place
13046 S. Evans
13136 S. Langley

Bridgeport
3122 S. Green

Cabrini Row House
523 W. Locust

Dearborn
2931 S. Federal #105
2701 S. Federal #105

Hilliard Homes
2030 S. State St. (community room)

Horner
1815 W. Monroe (social room)

Horner/Major Adams
125 N. Hoyne

Jane Addams Family R/C
1254 S. Loomis (multi-purpose room)

Lake Parc Place
3983 S. Lake Park (social room)
3939 S. Lake Park (social room)

Lawndale
2533 South California, 2nd floor

Lowden
246A W. 95th Street

SSSE-Giles
3555 S. Giles

Trumbull
10606 S. Oglesby
10616 S. Bensley

Washington Park
713 E. 45th Street
627 E. 40th Street

Wentworth
248 W. 38th Place #268
3737 S. Wells

As the program wraps up for the season, its impact lingers in the neighborhoods it served — not only in the meals provided, but in the sense of reassurance it offered families. For many, the free breakfasts and lunches have been more than just food; they’ve been a reminder that community support exists beyond the school year. With its return promised next summer, the CHA’s initiative stands as a steady fixture in the city’s efforts to ensure no child goes hungry when classrooms close.

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