School is almost out and summer is just around the corner. While most kids in our area look forward to warm days of splashing in the lake, riding their bikes or playing in the park, some local children face a challenge. What to eat? During the school year, many children get free lunches at school, and for those who qualify, The Lion’s Club generously provides free food to take home with them for the weekend. During the summer, however, those options are off the table.
Cup of Grace started a free Saturday lunch program for kids in 2018 right after the school year ended. We handed out over 530 lunches and over 200 “weekend bags” full of kid-friendly foods so they had something to eat over the rest of the weekend.
The lunches and weekend bags are distributed every Saturday in the Spirit Lake Big Park between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m (or until we run out of food). The lunch might include a sandwich or pre-packaged entrée (Crustables/Lunchables), fruit, chips, and water or juice. Weekend bags have items such as microwavable pasta, mac’n’cheese, fruit cups, single-serve cereal and snacks.
We will be starting the Summer Saturday Free Lunch and Weekend Bags Program again on Saturday, June 8th and continue through the summer until Saturday, August 31st.
If you would like to help:
- Make a cash donation. Visit our website at cupofgrace.life, scroll to the bottom and click on the Donate Money button.
- Donate food. Email us at secretary@cupofgrace.life to get a list of foods we need.
- Help distribute the lunches and weekend bags. Contact us at secretary@cupofgrace.life
Thank you for helping us feed the kids so they have one less thing to worry about!