For some children, summer is not a fun time. Many elementary aged children rely daily on their school’s Student Nutrition Program for a snack or meal throughout the school year. In the summer, schools are closed for vacation.
To help those children who sometimes need a little bit more, The Salvation Army Lindsay, Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition, Kawartha Lakes Food Source, and the HKPR District Health Unit partnered together to make nutritious lunches for those who relied on school’s Student Nutrition Programs. The Summer Outreach Lunch Program prepares and distributes lunches two days a week in July and August.
Janet Rodin, Community Ministries Coordinator at The Salvation Army, Aisha Malik, Chair of the Food Security Working Group of the Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition, and Heather Kirby, General Manager of Kawartha Lakes Food Source plan and organize all aspects of this program including creating the menu, seeking and training volunteers, sourcing donations, and finalizing distribution locations.
This summer, Emma Cheng has been hired through the Canada Summer Jobs Program to coordinate the program ensuring that the ingredients are ready each day, scheduling volunteers for preparing and distributing the lunches as well as baking the dessert, and ensuring that distribution volunteers are prepared and ready for the children.
This program relies heavily on volunteer support and the program organizers would like to express our gratitude to all the volunteers who have dedicated 120 hours to date.
As of July 17, the program has distributed 435 lunches over 6 days of distribution.
The distribution locations in Lindsay are at the following elementary schools: Leslie Frost, King Albert, Queen Victoria and St. Mary’s. This summer, the program has expanded to serve students in Fenelon Falls where distribution is at Garnet Graham Park.
Lunches can be picked up each Wednesday and Friday at these locations between 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Any child can take a lunch with no questions asked other than: “Hi, would you like a free lunch?”
If you would like to support this program, we are currently in need of volunteers to help prepare and distribute the lunches. Volunteers must be registered with either Kawartha Lakes Food Source or The Salvation Army Lindsay. Please reach out to either organization to register.
Both The Salvation Army and Kawartha Lakes Food Source are also able to receive any cash donations to support the purchase of food to make the lunches.
For more information, to donate or volunteer, please contact Heather Kirby — General Manager, Kawartha Lakes Food Source — 705-324-0707 or Janet Rodin — Community Ministries Coordinator, The Salvation Army — 705-878-5331 ext 2.