More than 1,600 free food programs open this summer in Ill.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois school officials say more than 1,600 programs will be available this summer to feed children from low-income homes for free.

Summer food programs provide free meals to children through age 18 for free when school's not in session. They typically run in June, July and August, but some start in May and run into September.

The State Board of Education said that last summer, more than 100,000 children ate free meals.

But officials said that's only 15.3 percent of the 653,000 children who ate free or reduced-price meals during the school year.

Nationally, officials said 3.3 million children got summer meals.

To locate a site, call the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hot line at 800-359-2163.