Forum held on summer feeding programs ...

Tuesday, June 17, a forum on the summer feeding programs at Allamakee Community Schools, Eastern Allamakee Community Schools and the Feed the Kids program in Waukon was held at the AJ Bar & Grill patio area in Waukon, sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats. Pictured in the submitted photo above, left to right, are Eastern Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Sarah Veare, Feed the Kids co-coordinator Kathy Hay, and Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Jess Keenan, each of whom reviewed her respective summer feeding program during the forum.

Keenan explained that the Allamakee Community School District summer lunch program is for kids ages one to 18, with no questions asked, and no paperwork to be filled out. The school district provides free lunches and grab-and-go breakfasts, Monday through Friday, in June and again in early August. USDA funds the lunches and breakfasts, including childcare clients, sports teams, and high schoolers, as long as they attend one of the centers to eat from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during the days the program is available.

For the month of July, the Feed the Kids program is sponsored by local churches and is hosted by Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Hay explained that individual churches are responsible for serving and providing dessert each of the four weeks of the program that takes the place of the Allamakee Community School District program that is only available in June and August. However, donations from individuals, businesses and organizations provide the food for the meals. Donations have been collected and given to the Feed the Kids program. Donations are currently being taken for the program at Waukon State Bank.

In Lansing and New Albin, Veare directs the Eastern Allamakee Community School District summer feeding program, which provides free lunches and breakfasts from Tuesday to Friday for June, July, and the first week of August. Each Friday, kids are given lunches and breakfasts for the following Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. As in Waukon, all youth ages one to 18 are invited, with no paperwork and no questions asked. Volunteers are needed to help with the program.

The Allamakee County Food Shelf and the Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) were also invited to attend the forum, but were not in attendance. The Allamakee Democrats appreciate the efforts of Keenan, Hay and Veare, and all others involved with the programs, for their work in providing free, nutritious lunches to area youth. Those who would like to volunteer are asked to contact either school district or Zion United Church of Christ.