We know that a common experience for many families during this health crisis is the loss of jobs and income. This change in income may qualify your children for free or reduced-price meals. Although this is not a requirement to receive meals from the district every week during our school closure, families who currently participate in the National School Lunch Program will also be eligible to receive additional funds for food through the state’s Pandemic EBT.

We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application as soon as possible.

There are four options for completing and submitting your application:

1. Fill in the PDF application electronically and save it as a document on your computer. Email it as an attachment to the district’s food service cooridnator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.
2. Print the PDF and fill it out by hand. Take a picture of the completed application and email it as an attachment to cellis@op97.org.
3. Print the PDF and fill it out by hand. Send the completed application via regular mail to:
   Carla Ellis
   Oak Park School District 97
   260 Madison St.
   Oak Park, IL 60302
4. Print the PDF and fill it out by hand. Fax the completed application to 708-524-3019.

Applications will also be available each week at our meal pick-up sites.

Weekly Meal Distribution

Through the duration of our school closure, we will hold a weekly meal distribution for all District 97 students in need. Participation in the National School Lunch Program is not required.

• When: Mondays, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
• What: Meals are available to any District 97 family in need. Each student will receive breakfast and lunch items for five days.

If you have any questions, please email Carla Ellis at cellis@op97.org.

The Irving PTO Board has voted to allocate funds to help ease hardship our community is facing due to Covid-19 also known as the Coronavirus. We realize that many families will not be receiving income and may struggle during this time. Effective immediately, we are offering gift cards to ANYONE in need of financial assistance who has a student at Irving.

• You do not need to be a participant in the free and reduced lunch program to apply, this is for anyone who needs it.
• All applicants will be kept confidential. Only the PTO President and Treasurer will have access.
• Due to safety and confidentiality, the gift card will be emailed to you.
• We have assembled a list of stores (Amazon, Big Guys, Chipotle, CVS, Instacart, Panera and Target) that you can request. We will do our best to honor your preference, but ask for flexibility.
• Applications are taken weekly, please apply by Monday at 5pm for delivery by Friday.
• You can apply every week as needed.

Our intention is to offer this program as long as we have the funds and our community is in need.

In addition, we have created a PTO donation fund to support families impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. If you are able to help support your fellow Irving families, no amount is too small to donate.

Gift Card Application Form                                                  PTO Donation Fund Link

For more support: The Community Mental Health Board and Oak Park and River Forest Townships have put together a COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide, which is available at https://tinyurl.com/oprfguide.

Thank you all so much for your support and care for each other as we navigate these times.

Sincerely, Your Irving PTO Board

Want to help Oak Park families in need?

Starting on April 1st until April 30th, we will be collecting donations for Beyond Hunger, formerly Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. Local schools across the community have joined this challenge by having a virtual food drive.

Support by making a donation to our team on the Irving Fundraising page. The process is fast, easy, and secure!

Our PTO will match up to $1000!

Let’s do this Irving!
https://www.classy.org/team/292928

Meal Distribution

Our next meal distribution, which is open to any District 97 student who is in need of food, will be Monday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools).

This distribution will include meals for five days, and will include some perishable items, such as frozen chicken patties and hamburgers. If you have any questions, please contact our food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.

Note: this is open to ALL students.