CHAMPAIGN – Hey kids: There's going to be free food all summer long at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

Staff and volunteers will serve free breakfasts, lunches and afternoon snacks to all kids and teens dropping by, as long as they're age 18 or younger.

The meals will be served daily Wednesday through Aug. 19 at the agency's headquarters, 201 W. Kenyon Road, C.

The agency will also serve breakfast and afternoon snacks (no lunch) in Rantoul two days a week.

Food service in Rantoul will be available on Tuesdays and Fridays from June 12 to Aug. 14 at the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County, 520 E. Wabash.

This is the first year public health will serve as a free-meal provider for the summer food-service program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Brandon Meline, director of maternal and child health for the public health district, said there may be more demand for free food for kids this summer with many families suffering the effects of the recession.

And while public health is making the meals available to all kids and teens in the community, he said, having meals at headquarters will be handy for families coming for services.

"We're going to be able to offer a real basic breakfast and lunch," he said.

Getting access to the food will be pretty basic, too: Just show up. There won't be any advanced registration required and there won't be any income-eligibility standards to meet, Meline said.

The only requirement is that all meals have to be eaten where they're served, he added: No carry-out.

The meals will follow national school meal dietary guidelines and include largely pre-packaged items and sandwiches that can be assembled without cooking.

Breakfast will include cereal, milk and fruit. Lunch will be sandwiches, milk, juice and fruit, and snacks will be things like string cheese, yogurt and nuts, Meline said.

So far, there isn't any limit on how many kids and teens can be served, he said. Public health is planning to have enough food so that hopefully, nobody has to be turned away.

Daily meal hours at 201 W. Kenyon Road, C, will be:

– 8-9 a.m. for breakfast.

– 11 a.m. to noon for lunch.

– 2:30-3:30 p.m. for snacks.

Tuesday and Thursday meal hours at the Community Service Center in Rantoul will be:

– 9:30-10:30 a.m. for breakfast.

– 2:30-3:30 p.m. for snacks.

The state's summer food program is also being offered at several schools and other sites throughout Champaign-Urbana and Rantoul, according to the local regional office of education. They include:

– Champaign: Dr. Howard Elementary School, Garden Hills Elementary School, Columbia Center, Carrie Busey Elementary School, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club and Douglass Community Center.

– Urbana: Urbana High School, Urbana Middle School, King Elementary School and Prairie Elementary School.

– Rantoul: Broadmeadow Elementary School.