Thanks to the vision of one man and the diligence of a local church, students in the Johnston City school district can still get nutritious meals over the summer, regardless of their financial circumstances.
The JC Kids Lunch Bunch is now in its eighth year.
"It's kind of interesting," said Keith Fletcher, pastor of the Johnston City Free Will Baptist Church, that administers the program, referring to the program's beginnings. "It was really one of the ideas that Robert Poff had."
Poff, a community activist, passed away about only a year after beginning the program with AmeriCorps and Vista. Fletcher said there were barely enough kids to keep the program going the first year, and he and his church members decided they could do it on their own.
They worked with the school board, did the paper work and went through the training. Eight years strong, the program is now a success that keeps growing.
"Last year, we served 2,212 USDA-approved children's meals," said Fletcher. "Our goal in 2017 is a 10 percent increase over that." According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 13 million children under 18 live in households where do not have a consistent source of nutritious food.
During the school year, they can eat breakfast and lunch at school. But once summer arrives, that source of food is gone. To exacerbate the problem, going hungry equates to other health issues and even learning delays.
While Fletcher's church hosts the meals and organizes the program, it gets help from other churches and organizations.
"We couldn't do this without the help from others," he said. "We get support from the Ministerial Alliance, but also from a lot of churches that don't participate in that."
One example, he said, is the Dillingham Church east of town. "Those folks call every year to see what we need," he said. "They ask what they can bring and then they go shopping. They provide food for the kids to take home on the weekends."
The program also provides handicapped-accessible transportation for participants who live in Johnston City. Parents and caregivers may also eat lunch with children at no cost.
"Funds for adult meals are provided by sources outside of the USDA," said Fletcher. "We are accepting donations at the church," he added.
Along with providing nutrition, the Summer Lunch Bunch offers activities that stimulate learning and creativity. The daily programs include animals, art projects, free books, games, professional musicians, Zumba, and even a water slide. On Wednesdays, the Johnston City Library Summer Reading Program provides the activity.
"I think there are more kids who are hungry for a hug, fist pump, and a pat on the back," Fletcher added. "We provide both. A lot of them come back for that."
On Saturday, June 3, Johnston City Free Will Baptist Church will host a family-friendly kickoff celebration from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the church parking lot, with inflatable games, cotton candy, hot dogs, healthy snacks, free books and fun activities.
The Summer Lunch Bunch is held 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from June 5 until Aug. 4. To donate or volunteer, call Fletcher at (618) 983-5254 or (618) 952-4904.
