Demand for summer lunch program increases

HUNTINGTON -- Inside Trinity Church of God on 3rd Avenue, a mother holds her daughter on her lap, watching the child eat a sandwich. Other kids are munching apples and string cheese, while outside the church, a couple more make their way down the sidewalk toward the church hall.

The church is one of many locations in the Tri-State now offering free lunches to children through the age of 18 as part of the Summer Lunch Program funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This year, those locations are serving about 25 percent more lunches than in 2008, when the state's economy was in better shape than it is now.

Churches, schools, community centers, camps and even private homes throughout the nation are gathering places now where children in need can get a free, healthy lunch. Meals include a sandwich, a piece of fruit, milk and a snack, such as pretzels or string cheese.

It seems there are more in need this year than most, said Rhonda McCoy, director of Food Service for Cabell County Schools. The county is making 1,500 lunches daily this year, with requests for about 300 more per day than last year, she said.

The program is offered in areas where at least 50 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches. In Cabell County, it's about 52 percent, meaning there are a lot of families out there who struggle to feed their kids, McCoy said.

"We think that when summer starts and school has ended, and children don't have school lunch and breakfast, there are children who go hungry," she said. "We want to provide a meal for them."

She has seen the excitement on the children's faces when the food arrives, making it clear how much this program is needed.

"We're still having parents call us requesting more sites," she said. "We just have to get it approved through Child Nutrition Office in Charleston."

The program is more than 60 years old, having begun with the National School Lunch Act in 1946. About 7.1 million American children were participating in the National School Lunch Program by the end of its first year. In Fiscal Year 2007, the most recent available, more than 30.5 million children got a daily lunch through the National School Lunch Program, at a cost of the government of about $8.7 billion.

For Trinity Church of God, it's the first time the school lunch program has been offered. Organizer Darby Randan said members decided to get involved after reading the book "The Externally Focused Church."

It wasn't because of people might be out of work this year, but because "I thought, this is the perfect place. It's within walking distance of two schools," Randan said. "There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood who could probably benefit."

It's been a slow start so far, she said. The church has served only about 10 or 15 lunches a day since the program started Wednesday. "But every day, we've had new kids," she said. And she hopes to see more beginning next week.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

From left Shawnice Jones, Rose Hensley, Robert Redman and Kaitlyn Richmond help prepare sandwiches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Rose Hensley of Milton helps prepare sandwiches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Workers pack lunches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Tim Rowe of Huntington packs lunches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Cliff Beckett of Huntington prepares to deliver lunches to three locations for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Robert Redman of Huntington helps prepare sandwiches for the summer lunch program Thursday at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Tim Rowe, left, and Ryan Newsome, both of Huntington, pack lunches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Workers pack lunches for the summer lunch program Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Workers prepare to deliver for the summer lunch program Thursday at the Cabell County Schools Central Office building in Huntington.