This is the seventh year extension of a one-year grant program to support Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Program, which provides nutritious after school, summer, and weekend meals to food insecure children in northern Illinois. Food insecurity in childhood limits children’s ability to grow and learn to their full potential. During the school year, the food bank sponsors after school meals through CACFP, supplementing the federal school lunch program that many low income children depend on to receive at least one nutritious meal each day. The weekend BackPack Program provides child friendly food for children to prepare at home with their families on the weekend. School Based Food Pantries provide families with children in school with consistent access to food in a familiar place. The Food Bank sponsors summer meals through SFSP at summer youth programs and open sites at parks to ensure that children in low food security communities. Northern Illinois Food Bank serves more than 6,000 children each week through the Child Nutrition Program.