Highwood Summer Lunch Program Returns With Free Meals At Library

HIGHWOODS, IL — Highwood children will be able to pick up free lunches at the Highwood Library & Community Center on weekdays this summer through a partnership with Quest Food Management Services and the Friends of the Highwood Library & Community Center.

The program is scheduled to run Monday through Friday from June 8 through July 31 at the library and community center, 102 Highwood Ave. Lunches will be distributed at 12 p.m. while supplies last. Organizers said 30 bagged lunches will be available each day at no cost to participants.

According to the announcement, the meals will be prepared fresh at Deerfield High School. The cold bagged lunches will include a sandwich or wrap with a vegetarian option, a side and bottled water. Menus will vary throughout the week.

Quest's culinary team, led by Food Service Directors Carlos Hoyos-Mejia and Edgar Posadas, will prepare scratch-made meals designed to be nutritious and appealing to children, according to the announcement. The effort is intended to help children and families maintain access to meals during the summer months, when school is out of session.

“We are proud to partner with the Friends of the Highwood Library and Deerfield High School to provide these much-needed meals,” Hoyos-Mejia said. “Our goal is to deliver fresh, high-quality food that supports the community and creates a positive experience for everyone who participates.”

Friends of the Highwood Library & Community Center Board member John Rood said the program addresses a need for families served through the library during the summer.

“This program is essential to supporting the health and well-being of our community,” Rood said. “Many of the children served through the library do not have access to sufficient food throughout the summer, and partnerships like this help bridge that gap.”

The lunch program is returning after a successful 2025 effort. In last year's program, 1,396 lunches were served to local families in need, officials said.

This summer's distribution will again focus on providing consistent weekday meals at the library while school is not in session. Lunches will be available each weekday at noon through July 31, while supplies last.