Announcements
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March 8, 2021: State of Illinois providing Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) to those Eligible for Free & Reduced Meals Status
The State of Illinois will be providing Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to Illinois students receiving free or reduced meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Families do not need to complete a P-EBT application; however, families are encouraged to complete a NSLP Household Eligibility Application to determine eligibility for free or reduced meal status if they have not already done so for the 2020-21 School Year. That application can be found here. Families that are currently receiving SNAP, TANF, or income eligible Medicaid do not need to take any action.
The P-EBT program provides food assistance to families by way of a money access card. It benefits those who would have received free or reduced lunch while attending school but are not consuming these meals in school due to COVID-19 restrictions. If “grab and go meals” are provided to students, this does not exclude these students from participating or being eligible for the P-EBT program.
At this time, it is very important for all eligible students to ensure that their mailing address in Tyler is current. The Illinois Department of Human Services anticipates beginning issuing P-EBT cards to all known eligible students in March 2021. Students will receive benefits for all eligible school days, back to the beginning of this school year.
If you have any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) webpage, or IDHS can be reached at 1-800-843-6154.
Find Food Illinois
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Find Food Illinois
Use the Find Food IL map to find places that are offering free food or meals in your community. You can also locate stores and markets that accept SNAP/LINK or WIC coupons. Plus, see the DHS or WIC office nearest to you. Enter your zip code to get started. Click on the orange circle with three lines to narrow your search and find a specific resource.
Free-Reduced Lunch
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SD308 National School Lunch Program
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) allows students whose families meet certain income requirements to receive all school meals at a free or reduced price. Nutritious meals help students succeed in school on a daily basis. We want to make sure parents have a quick and simple way to access these benefits
Food Pantries
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Northern Illinois Food Bank - Where to get food
Northern Illinois Food Bank partners with 900 feeding programs across 13 counties to serve our neighbors needing food. Please use the locator map on this website to find a food pantry or soup kitchen near you.
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Northern Illinois Food Bank - Mobile Pantries
Regularly updated schedule of mobile food pantries in our area that are open to the public.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps) helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health.