The state’s budget cuts to the Peace Meal program have caused the university to set up a plan to administer furloughs to all employees of Peace Meal.

Beginning the week of June 13, the Peace Meal program will not deliver meals each Friday, director of business services and university treasurer Paul McCann said.

The first Friday meals to not be delivered will be June 17 until the end of September, McCann said.

If the program ends on Sept. 30, the last Friday of the month, it will total up to 16 furlough days.

“The program doesn’t have as much money and we felt this was the best way to do it,” McCann said.

McCann said this is the first time the university has administered furloughs under the new policy, which was approved Jan. 28, 2010.

McCann said the university is hoping to save $80,000 with the furloughs.

Eastern’s Peace Meal program is not the only one being affected.

The News-Gazette, in Champaign, reported its Peace Meal program will also stop delivering one less day each week, making deliveries four times a week.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or deneic@gmail.com