In 1971, on the West Side of Chicago in the North Lawndale neighborhood, the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party initiated the People's Free Food Program at the Better Boys Foundation. Under the leadership of Fred Hampton, This program was intended to spread awareness of the health and social crisis of food inaccessibility to inner city children before school. The Illinois chapter of the Free Breakfast program served more than 400 children every morning. The program was proven successful and motivated government entities in the city of Chicago to institute this as a state-wide public school initiative. For more information, please visit here.
The People's Free Food Program was founded by the Black Panther Party in 1971, and was initiated at the Better Boys Foundation on the West Side of Chicago. The Better Boys Foundation Family Services continues to provide social services to youth and their families to this day.
