Summer Lunch Program Gets Underway

Oskaloosa Summer Lunch Program

Summer Lunch Program Gets Underway

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Summer Lunch Program is once again getting underway, all in an effort to help kids who may live with food insecurity.

“Changes are happening this year for the program,” says Martha Comfort, Director of the Oskaloosa Summer Lunch Program. “We have upped our game on providing better activities for the kids at each site. From some science experiments, to music, to crafts. we have worked hard at bringing fun to each site along with the great food. Ashley Smith is our program coordinator and she has great plans for the summer. We have added more sites in order to break the transportation barrier that some kids may have in order to get to our sites.”

Comfort went on to say, “Also we have had a tremendous amount of commitment by local churches. Assembly of God Church, College Avenue Friends Church and Beacon United Methodist Church are hosting sites at their locations and providing volunteers from their church to host these sites. First Christian Reformed Church is teaming up with volunteers from Mahaska Health Partnership to host the site at MHP. The Evangelical Church is providing half of the volunteers at our Southern Hills site for the summer. We are also adding a supper meal at the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday evenings.”

“This program is unique in that we have volunteers from all age groups that are making a difference in the lives of children. But, while these volunteers are coming to help others, I would say that they are also gaining a lot from their experience. I have had volunteers tell me that they see the kids from the lunch program all throughout the year, and these kids remember them and the fun they have had. This program is a wonderful multi-generational program”, says Comfort.

The summer lunch program is designed to help all school-age children receive a much needed meal, no questions asked.

The need for such a program was evident as more and more students are going to school hungry. During the summer months, those students no longer have access to prepared lunches like they do during the school year.

With over 50% of the Oskaloosa School District being on reduced or free lunch, the USDA has a program that communities can adopt to help feed children in need of nourishment.

So, around Oskaloosa, locations have been designated, and volunteers report to work at various aspects of the program. From serving the meal, and cleaning up the sites afterwards, a small army helps make it all possible.

Last year during a Des Moines talk show, the host questioned the need for the summer lunch program. One of those questions raised was why the program was necessary if parents are eligible for food stamps, now known as SNAP. Oskaloosa News asked Comfort about the situation.

“SNAP benefits are not meant to cover an entire food budget for a family. These benefits are what they say – supplementary. Many members of our community who are the working poor and therefore experience a tremendous amount of food insecurity. Parents are working minimum wage jobs – sometimes more than one job in order to make ends meet. There are only so many hours in the day that an individual can work. Many of these families are living in food insecure homes and they are doing their very best to feed their families. During the school year, these families benefit from reduced or free school lunches. During the summer, families face a struggle to meet the food needs of their family,” says Comfort.

Comfort went on to say, “We feed children ages 1 to 18 no matter who they are, what economic background they come from – all are welcome and we do not discriminate. The benefit to this is that we have a tremendous amount of “community” being built at each of our locations. Kids are kids and they have friends that they hang out with and then come over and have lunch with us.”

“We have had grandparents drop by with their grandkids to have lunch and join in an activity. It gives the kids and their grandparents or parents something to do during the summer. I like the fact that all kids are welcome. Kids don’t care about what economic background their friends are from, they just want to be with their friends and coming to our sites for lunch and an activity makes summer fun for them.”

“I (Comfort) have received criticism from people who say that I am enabling parents to spend their money on frivolous things when they should be spending their money to feed their families. I strongly disagree and frankly, I am sick of this and not going to stand for it. We are supporting families and helping them, and if people disagree, then they don’t need to volunteer with us. There are many other volunteer opportunities in our community that they can be involved in.

What harm can come from a community stepping forward and providing food and activities for the summer for its children? With all the things that are wrong in the world, this is one of the greatest things that is so right for our community and beneficial.

We get caught up in trying to make everything equal and we forget that we are put on this earth to make a difference. We need to quit trying to balance everything out to be “fair” and just do what is right. The lunch program is one of those right things to do – feed our kids, no matter who they are and I will be part of this program as long as I am physically able”, said Comfort in closing.

Summer lunch locations can be found at the following locations:

Oskaloosa Middle School (noon to 12:30) and Oskaloosa Elementary School (noon to 1:00) will be open for lunch Monday – Friday from May 31 to June 24;

New Hope Community (noon to 12:45) Monday through Friday from May 31 to August 12;

Daily Auditorium Monday through Friday (noon to 12:30) during Theatre Camps throughout the summer – view the George Daily website for specific dates;

Southern Hills Apartments (noon to 12:45) M, W, F from June 1 to August 12;

Mahaska Health Partnership (vacant lot corner of N. 11th and C Avenue East – noon to 12:45), M, W, F from June 1 to August 12;

College Avenue Friends Church – Park across the street – (noon to 12:45) M, W, F from June 1 to August 12;

Vanderwilt Park (noon to 12:45) will open on June 27 to August 12 (replaces elementary school site) and serves from noon to 12:45 M, W, F;

Oskaloosa Public Library (11:15 to noon), M, W, F from June 1 to August 12;

Beacon United Methodist Church, (11:30 to 12:15), M, W, F from June 1 to August 12;

Assembly of God Church (11:30 to 12:15) – will serve lunch the week of May 31 – Tuesday through Friday and then will go to M, W, F thereafter until August 12;

Farmer’s Market (5:00 to 6:00), beginning Tuesday June 7 through August 16.

We are also supplying lunches for the Y Day Camps this summer.