Summer meal program needs input

To The Eagle:

Good nutrition is essential for effective learning every day, all year long. Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does the need for good nutrition. Summer meal programs help children get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months.

For the past two years Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church has taken the lead and served meals to kids and adults during the summer months. Initially they worked under the guidelines of the USDA Summer Food Service Program but found that it wasn’t a good fit for our community. The USDA required that food be only served to kids under 18 and strict portion and ingredient guidelines resulted in waste.

Last summer, through generous donations of funds and food and acting independently, they were able to serve 561 meals from July 6 - August 16. In addition to 442 kid meals provided, they were able to serve 119 adult meals. Food wasn’t wasted, and any surplus food donations were shared with our local food banks. This model makes sense and the Summer Meal Program Planning Committee would love to make it happen again this summer.

What do they need?

* More people to help prepare and serve meals

* Financial support

* Donations of food

* Ideas for activities and programs to enhance the Summer Meal Program.

Our next meeting will be at 1 p.m., Monday, May 7, at the Community Center on Main St. If you would like to learn more, and hopefully do more to make Summer Lunches happen, then please join us.

Suzanne Holmes

Cathlamet