Food Service

Menus

School District 21 and OrganicLife strive to provide as much variety as possible in its menus while remaining within the constraints of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs’ regulations.

Food menus can be accessed through:

Seamless Summer lunch menus can be accessed via the Seamless Summer section on this webpage.

Accounts & Payments

All students have a food service account that they can access using a unique PIN (personal identification number), which is the same as the password that students use in CCSD21’s computer systems, such as Google Apps for Education. Students should, and do, memorize their passwords/PINs, but should not share these with others.

End of Year Balances:

Meal fund balances carry over to the following school year.

• 8th Grade Students – Funds of 8th grade students that have an account balance greater than $5.00 will be transferred to the oldest sibling enrolled in the district, if applicable, otherwise, a check will automatically be mailed to the parent or guardian.
• PK-7th Grade Students – If your student will not be attending School District 21 the following school year, you may contact the Business Office at 847-520-2706 to request a refund.

Apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Fee Waivers

CCSD21 takes part in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and your child may qualify for Free or Reduced Price meals. An income/household size eligibility guideline, generated and adjusted annually by the Federal Government, is published by the State and is used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals for students. A new application must be submitted each school year. Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications submitted through MyMealtime will be processed daily and benefits are applied immediately. Completed paper applications may be mailed to or dropped off at your student’s school or the CCSD21 Business Office (959 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling). Paper applications will be processed within 10 working days after submission.

In order to qualify as a meal under the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, a breakfast must contain three (3) components and up to four (4) components, one of which may or may not be a milk. A lunch must contain at least three (3) components and up to five (5) components, one of which may or may not be a milk. If your child does not take the required servings at each meal, they will not qualify for a Free or Reduced Price meal and will be charged the full a la carte price for each item.

The District does not participate in the federally-funded Special Milk Program. Those students who qualify for Free or Reduced Price meals and do not take a qualified meal will be charged full price for milk.

Information on Reduced Price meals is available on the Food Service Pricing Guide.

Families that received communication that they were approved for the 2024-2025 school year via direct certification from the State are automatically enrolled and they DO NOT need to apply. If you believe your family may be eligible for the program, please complete the appropriate application for the school your child attends via the links below. Paper applications may be turned in to your child’s school or the CCSD21 Business Office (959 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling).

2024-2025 School Year Applications

Breakfast After the Bell

In addition to offering a traditional breakfast program prior to the start of the instructional day, all CCSD21 schools also offer breakfast after the bell.  Breakfast after the bell means breakfast is provided to students after the instructional day has officially begun.  All students are able to obtain a breakfast and are permitted to eat in either designated areas or the classroom.

Questions about the Breakfast After the Bell program should be directed to the CCSD21 Business Office at 847-520-2706.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

The Community Eligibility Provision is an opportunity under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs where schools can qualify to offer free breakfast and lunch meals to all students within that school.

Questions about CEP should be directed to the CCSD21 Business Office at 847-520-2706.

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition Information
School District 21 and OrganicLife both place a high priority on the nutrition of CCSD21 students. Nutritional and allergen information of school meals can be viewed on Mealviewer (click here).  If your child has specific nutritional needs, please contact the nurse at your child’s school.

Allergies
If your child has specific needs related to allergies, please contact the nurse at your child’s school.

Food Service Price Guide

The Food Service Price Guide details the cost of items offered during school meals.

Seamless Summer

The Seamless Summer Lunch Program, a component of the National School Lunch Program, enables school districts to offer free, healthy meals throughout the summer to students and members of the public 18 years of age and younger.

Students participating in CCSD21-sponsored summer school or enrichment activities will receive a free lunch in class.

June 5 – August 9 (No lunches served on: June 19, July 4, 5, 12, 19 or 26)

Monday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

MENUS: June  |  July  |  August

Any child in the community can visit the locations noted below.

• Alcott Center – Buffalo Grove
• Windsor Ridge Park – Buffalo Grove
• Kilmer Elementary School – Buffalo Grove
• Riley Elementary School – Arlington Heights
• Indian Trails Library – Wheeling
• London Middle School – Wheeling
• Field Elem. School – Wheeling
• Childerley Park– Wheeling
• Whippletree Playground – Wheeling
• Twain Elementary School Park – Wheeling
• Hawthorne Early Childhood School – Wheeling
• Chamber Park – Wheeling
• Whitman Elementary School – Wheeling
• Holmes Middle School – Wheeling
• Willow Trails Park – Prospect Heights

Summer EBT-SunBucks

The Summer EBT/SUN Bucks program provides families a $120 annual benefit ($40/month for June through August) for each eligible school-aged child and aims to ensure that children from eligible families have continued access to nutritious meals during the summer break when school meal programs are not available. An income/household size eligibility guideline, generated and adjusted annually by the Federal Government, is published by the State and is used to determine eligibility. There are no citizenship requirements and summer EBT is not considered under the public charge rule.

This program is in addition to the Seamless Summer initiative we implement across Community Consolidated School District 21.

Here’s how it works:

1. Families complete the appropriate application.
2. Within ten (10) days of receipt of the application, the CCSD21 Business Office reviews the submitted applications and notifies the families whether or not their child is eligible.
3. A Summer EBT Screener is available online.  Under the district dropdown menu select Wheeling CCSD 21.  All families expecting to receive Summer EBT benefits are encouraged to check if they need to provide additional information and to review their address on file.
4. Families who qualify will receive an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, commonly known as the SUN Bucks card in the mail, along with information on how to use it and a list of eligible food items. The letter will also include detailed information such as the names of eligible children, approved amount, and the availability of the issuances. Cards may arrive in an unmarked envelope so please be on the lookout. Keep that card, as future SUN Bucks benefits may be loaded to that card for each student.
5. Funds will be loaded onto the SUN Bucks card at the end of August /beginning of September. These funds can be used to purchase eligible food items at authorized retailers, including grocery stores and farmers’ markets.  Benefits must be used within four (4) months of issuance.  Any remaining balances will not be available after 122 days from when the funds are loaded to the card.

The last day to submit an application for the summer 2024 benefits was August 31, 2024.

The application for summer 2025 benefits will be shared in the spring of 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to view the food service most frequently asked questions.