Press Releases
Year
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Fills the Gap with Summer Meals for Kids
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Fills the Gap with Summer Meals for Kids
Free Breakfast and Lunch Offered July 25–August 11 While Other Districts Pause Programs
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is once again hosting the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), beginning Friday, July 25. This essential program provides free breakfast and lunch to children throughout the summer when other area school districts are not running similar programs. SFSP is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and will run through Monday, August 11.
Meals will be served on a first-come, first-served basis to children aged one to 18 in the CUPHD lobby located at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign, Monday through Friday. Breakfast is served from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, and lunch is served from 12:45 pm to 2:15 pm. All meals must be eaten on-site, and no sign-up is required to participate.
Meals will be provided without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. There will be no discrimination during the meal service. Individuals can file a program complaint of discrimination by completing the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online and at any USDA office. There is also information on how to file by fax and mail on the site.
“The Summer Food Service Program is a very important program. Many children get most of their nutrient intake from school food service nine months out of the year and it can be a challenge for some families during the summer. We are very pleased to be able to provide this service when school is out,” according to Brandon Meline, director of Maternal and Child Health.
Adds Administrator Julie Pryde, “Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is proud to serve as a site for the Summer Food Service Program. This year marks our 16th year as a site for this very important service. We encourage families with children to take advantage of this program and use our building to avoid summer’s heat. In addition to the breakfast and lunch, we also have free books, free Wi-Fi, cold air conditioning, and Disney+ on the lobby TV.”
For more information on SFSP, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunmeals.
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CUPHD Accepting Period Supply Donations to Support Local Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
CUPHD Accepting Period Supply Donations to Support Local Community
May 28 is World Menstrual Hygiene Day
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is continuing its ongoing campaign to collect a variety of period products for distribution to menstruating individuals across Champaign County. The next collection drive will launch on May 5, 2025. This initiative has supported those in our community who struggle to access essential period supplies. Last year, CUPHD distributed 10,881 individual period products to help address the needs of those facing period poverty.
According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, two in five people who menstruate in the U.S. have struggled to afford period products due to financial hardship. Additionally, one in four students who menstruate have been unable to afford the supplies they need.
Period products are a vital component of personal healthcare, and the goal with this campaign is to raise awareness about the very real impact of period poverty. By coming together as a community to ensure a wide variety of products are available, we can help alleviate unnecessary stress and improve the well-being of individuals who menstruate.
To make donating easy and accessible, CUPHD has curated an Amazon Wish List for virtual donations. Items purchased from the list will be shipped directly to CUPHD for distribution to clients and community members. In-person donations will also be accepted at CUPHD during the week of May 26–30. A donation drop box will be in the lobby for your convenience.
Ways to donate:
- Online: Amazon Wish List
- In-person: May 26–30 at 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign.
- Drop box located in the main lobby.
- Lobby hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Join us in recognizing Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 by helping ensure period products are accessible to all in our community.
For more information on period poverty, visit https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period- poverty/.
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Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Launches the Health Atlas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17,2025
Tanya Giannotti, Public Relations
217-531-2925 /
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Launches the Health Atlas
Interactive platform gives the public and our community partners easy access to health data in one convenient place
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is proud to announce the launch of its new online public health interactive data platform, the Champaign County Health Atlas. This innovative tool makes it easier, faster, and more intuitive for stakeholders to find and analyze health data to support public health initiatives.
With over 100 health indicators available, users can explore data visualizations in maps, charts, graphs, and tables tailored to Champaign County’s unique needs. By streamlining data access, this tool helps identify community health trends, inform funding priorities, and improve collaboration across sectors.
“The Health Atlas will be an invaluable resource for residents, policymakers, researchers, and community organizations, providing easy access to essential health data,” said Administrator Julie Pryde.
To learn more and explore the Health Atlas, visit https://cuphd.metop.io/
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