“Feed the Kids” program in Waukon grows in its second year of providing meals for local youth during the month of July
Living up to its name ... For the second consecutive year, the “Feed the Kids” program in Waukon that began last year has undoubtedly lived up to its name, as evident in the number of children pictured in each of these two photos. Filling a gap in the Allamakee Community School District’s Summer Feeding Program during the month of July, this year’s participation in the program grew by more than 40% over last year’s inaugural campaign, feeding nearly 2,000 lunches and just under 2,400 take-home breakfasts to local youth. Submitted photos.
The “Feed the Kids” program in Waukon completed its second July of feeding lunches and grab-and-go breakfasts to children 18 years of age and younger this past week. The program grew by over 40% from its inaugural effort last year, serving 1,974 lunches and 2,367 breakfasts over the course of 18 days during the month of July, up from its nearly 1,400 meals served during last year’s first-time effort.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) provides breakfasts and lunches during June and August to local children as part of its Summer Feeding Program. However, to fill the July feeding gap (when the school does not provide those meals), members of four local churches in Waukon, including St. Patrick Catholic Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Zion United Church of Christ, started to meet in May of last year to come up with an initial plan for last summer’s inaugural effort, and did so again to plan for this year.
The team decided to serve hot lunches and grab-and-go breakfasts in July to mimic what was being done at the school during the months of June and August. The team decided to serve the meals out of one location, Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) in Waukon, so children would not be confused with having to go to different churches each week to take part in the meal program.
Members of the planning team contacted local businesses, banks and church members. Grants were written, and the idea was pitched to local charitable groups. Donations of groceries, meat, prepared pizzas, beef, pork and dairy products were received. Money was also collected in churches.
Sign-up sheets offering church members the opportunity to donate, help serve the meals and/or bring goodies were filled up with willing names. The Hunger Task Force in La Crosse, WI was also a valuable resource that provided apples, powdered eggs, carrots, canned beans, and several other staples, all free of charge to the Waukon program.
Once the calendar turned to July 1, all the planning was put into action. Each of the four churches took one week in July and was responsible for preparing, serving and cleaning up the meals served at Zion UCC. The first week of this year’s program had the highest number of children attending and almost ran out of food. However, in the following weeks, there was plenty of food available and leftovers were delivered to area shut-ins so as not to waste anything.
Organizers say the project would not have been possible without the generous outpouring of monetary and food donations of community members, businesses, churches, and local charities. They gratefully acknowledged that the Waukon community was asked to support this cause and did so in an overwhelming manner.
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