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Volunteers package meals for Chicago Public School students. Credit: Chicago Mayor's Office

CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools suspended its free meal program Monday, but the program will return Tuesday.

The district has handed out more than 13 million meals since school was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, hoping to helps families in need. But CPS temporarily stopped the program Monday.

“Based on the evolving nature of activity across the city, we are suspending grab-and-go meal sites and all other school and administrative activities” for Monday, the district announced in a tweet on Sunday night.

Meal giveaways will resume at more than 300 schools Tuesday, the district announced in a press release. Here’s a list of the meal sites.

The district has also created an online “instructional toolkit” so teachers, families and students can manage discussions about what happened in Chicago and around the United States over the weekend.

All previously scheduled meal deliveries will still supposed to be done Monday, the district said. People who want to sign up for future deliveries can call 773-553-KIDS.

In response to the program stoppage, neighborhood groups and local restaurants are coming together to help.

  • The 40th Ward Neighbor Network will deliver meals from CPS schools to families that need them Monday, according to Ald. Andre Vasquez. You can sign up to help here.
  • Humboldt Park Montessori, 2540 W. Division St., will have bagged lunches for families needing food starting at 12:15pm until they run out.
  • The Pilsen Food Pantry was calling for volunteers to help with additional food distribution Monday.
  • Cesar’s Killer Margaritas, 3166 N. Clark St. is distributing boxed meals for families in need from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in light of the CPS news. “We ask you practice social distance, and have a face mask,” the restaurant’s owners posted on Facebook.
  • Urban Grill Chicago, 1132 W. Wilson Ave., is offering free lunches to CPS students from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Christ Lutheran Church at 3253 W. Wilson Ave is providing food for families. If you can donate, you can bring by groceries before 1 p.m. The most useful items are bread, sandwich toppings, peanut butter & jelly, rice, soups, non-perishables, microwavable meals and fruits (other than apples).
  • The Rogers Park Community Response Team is working with local food pantries and restaurants for CPS families in need of food assistance. Those in need can contact the response team’s hotline at 773-831-7668.
  • A small group of people are giving away prepared and canned food 1-3 p.m. Monday ay 3000 N. Kedzie Ave.
  • 39th Ward Alderman Samantha Nugent’s office is also working with neighbors in need of food assistance. Please call her office at 773-736-5594 if you or someone you know is in need.
  • New Life Community Church at 3729 W. Leland Ave. is giving out food, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Mexican restaurant Mi Tocaya — in partnership with Logan Square Neighborhood Association and The Power of 10 initiative — is giving out free meals to  Logan Square families in need each week. On Tuesday, the giveaways start at 11 a.m. at Monroe Elementary, 3651 W. Schubert Ave. Check lsna.net for a full pickup schedule.
  • Teachers and staff at Brentano Math & Science Academy, 2723 N. Fairfield Ave., are giving out food. Contact: (773) 534-4100

The CPS program has allowed the district to give away millions of meals to families in need. Many parents, laid off from work due to the pandemic, have used the program to provide for their children during the crisis.

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The city has been rocked by unrest in recent days. Read our live updates here.

There have been protests, largely peaceful, over the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.

But there’s also been looting and fires around the city. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said people are using the cover of peaceful protests to steal and wreak havoc.

That led to the city shutting down CTA service Sunday, calling in the National Guard and setting a 9 p.m. daily curfew.

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