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U-46 Distributes Meals Around Community

Sept. 16, 2020

After distributing nearly 2 million free meals to children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, School District U-46 is expanding the program — adding three dozen community sites for meal pick up during the 2020-21 school year, starting (today) Wednesday. 

U-46 Student Gets Meal from a Bus

Members of the U-46 Transportation Department and Food & Nutrition Services team are collaborating on the “Meals on the Bus” project, using some of the District’s mini-buses to bring the food to these community sites, which include parks, apartment complexes, public buildings, and parking lots. Families can pick whichever location works best for them each day — either one of the existing school sites, or one of the new community sites.

U-46’s program provides a free breakfast and lunch, packaged to take home, to all children 18 and under during Distance Learning. No paperwork is required, and the children do not need to be present. 

“We know that having nutritious meals fuel learning, and that includes remote learning,” said Elena Hildreth,  Director of Food & Nutrition Services. “Because of work obligations or transportation challenges, some families were struggling to get to school sites to pick up meals. Taking our meal program to more sites in the community is another way we can support U-46 families during this challenging time.” 

The Meals on the Bus program involves 15 bus routes, each making about three scheduled stops on weekdays. Buses will be at each site for at least 40 minutes and up to two hours. An updated schedule and list of locations can be found at u-46.org/food-distribution. Flyers will be posted and shared around the U-46 community, as well. 

“Members of our Transportation team have already been helping with packaging and distribution of food, but we’re excited to get even more involved with this important work and put some of our smaller buses back in service,” said U-46 Director of Transportation Jeffrey Prowell. 

Car Picking Up Meal

Between March 17 and Sept. 14, the U-46 Food & Nutrition Services department had distributed 1.92 million meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted schools free meal waiver flexibility through Dec. 31.

Meals are available Monday through Friday at the following community sites:

 

Bartlett/Carol Stream

 

Sites

Address

Times

 

Ruzicka Memorial Park

Newport Boulevard, Bartlett, 60103

8:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. 

Veterans Park

200 E. Lies Road E., Carol Stream, 60188

8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. 

Spring Lake Mobile Home Estates

100 1st Ave., Bartlett, 60103

9:10 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. 

Trails End Park

Longford Road, Bartlett, 60103

9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 

Bartlett Lake Apartments

562 Deere Park Circle, Bartlett, 60103

10:30 a.m. to noon

Leiseberg Park 

285 E. Devon Ave., Bartlett, 60103

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 



Elgin

Sites

Address

Times

Squire Village Apartments

1146 Yew Court, Elgin, 60120

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Eastside Neighborhood Gardens

Botsford Place, Elgin, 60120

9:20 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. 

Marie Grolich Park

Souster Ave., Elgin, 60123

9:20 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Kennington Square Apartments

905 Kenneth Circle, Elgin, 60120

9:20 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Cornerstone Park (street parking)

Mulberry Lane, Elgin, 60123

9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Unity Park

970 Illinois Ave.  Elgin,, 60120

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Clifford Court Apartments

Clifford Court, Elgin, 60123

9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. 

The Mill

1287 Fleetwood Drive, Elgin, 60123

9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. 

Blackhawk Apartments

926 Congdon Ave, Elgin, 60120

10:25 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.

River's Landing Apartments

3 Times Square Road, Elgin, 60120

10:30 a.m. to noon

Buena Vista Apartments

222 Locust St., Elgin, 60123

11 a.m. to noon 

Century Oaks Park (park on Sheffield)

1300 N McLean Blvd., Elgin, 60123

11 a.m. to noon

Salvation Army Park

316 Douglas Ave., Elgin, 60120

11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. 

Corley Drive Park (park on Corley)

1316 Corley Drive, Elgin, 60120

11:05 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. 

Illinois Park Early Learning Center

1350 Wing St., Elgin, 60123

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

Willow Creek Park

Lucile Ave., Elgin, 60120

10:30 a.m.  a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Willard Skate Park

329 Willard Ave., Elgin, 60120

11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

SE Public Parking Lot 

Raymond St. and National St., Elgin, 60120

Noon to 1 p.m. 

Greater Grace Church

991 Deborah Ave., Elgin, IL 60123

Noon to 1 p.m.

River West Commons Apartments

719 Highland Ave., Elgin, 60123

12:05 p.m. to 1:05 p.m. 

Hanover Park/Hoffman Estates

Sites

Address

Times

Glendale Terrace

2335 Glendale Terrace, Hanover Park, 60133

8:50 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Hanover Park District

1752 Maple Ave.,  Hanover Park, 60133

10:25 a.m. to Noon

Westline Apartment Complex

1700 Ontarioville Road, Hanover Park, 60133

10:50 a.m to 12:50 p.m. 

Canterbury Fields Park

1950 Maureen Drive, Hoffman Estates, 60195

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

South Elgin

Sites

Address

Times

Lions Club Park

500 Fulton St., South Elgin, 60177

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Sperry Park

800 Michigan Ave., South Elgin 60177

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Ann Street Park

Ann St., South Elgin, 60177

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Jim Hansen Park

338 Valley Forge Ave., South Elgin, 60177

11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. 

Streamwood

Sites

Address

Times

The Oaks Apartments

5021 S. Valley Lane, Streamwood, 60107

8:55 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. 

Streamwood Park District 

550 S. Park Blvd., Streamwood, 60107

9:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. 

Parkland Preparatory Academy

900 S Park Blvd., Streamwood, 60107

11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.