For the past fifteen years, St. Paul’s in Clay Center has served their community by ensuring that children have access to nutritious food during the summer months. As much as kids enjoy the summer break, for some, it means they are no longer receiving a healthy lunch five days a week, provided by their school. And that’s where St. Paul’s feeding ministry fits in.
It all started around 2010. Ronda Lloyd, who is a parishioner at St. Paul’s, worked at the local public pool. She noticed that during the summer, many of the kids were spending all day at the pool and either not eating or just having a bit of candy from the concession stand. She and her sister Carolyn, who is a deacon at St. Paul’s, thought it would be nice to provide an actual lunch. So with help from volunteers at the church, they began making lunch for kids at the local park across from the public pool. Monday through Friday from 12-1 pm, all summer long, kids could come and get a simple lunch like a hot dog, hamburger, or a sandwich.
When the pandemic hit, the parish had to pivot and try something different. They began a “grab and go” pickup at the church, where parents could drive into the church parking lot and get a hot meal for each of their kids. This style of distribution has worked well for the parish, so it’s the method they still use today, even after the pandemic.
Deacon Carolyn Garwood shared that the church now gets assistance from the Kansas State Department of Child Nutrition and Wellness. For every meal served, the state helps provide funds to offset the costs for the church. This financial support helps make it sustainable for the church and its volunteers to provide food for kids during the summer.
The church employs Anita Bloom, a cook from nearby Wakefield public schools, to prepare the meals. On this day, the menu is a slice of ham with a biscuit, “smiley” fries, and Mandarin orange slices. The church averages around 100 meals per day. Anita started with 94 on this day and had to prepare 13 extras. Deacon Carolyn said that no one is turned away. The church can always prepare extra meals if needed.
One parent said, “This ministry is a blessing because I’m watching my nieces and nephews all summer. I wouldn’t be able to feed all the kids without this help.”
Another parent said, “With my work schedule during the summer and having all four kids at home, I can’t prepare lunch. This helps us manage our crazy summer schedule and makes sure everyone gets a good meal. The hospitality I experience from the volunteers here is amazing, and I’m so grateful for what these folks are doing.”
The St. Paul’s lunch ministry will provide over two thousand lunches by the end of this summer.
by Chad Senuta
835 SW Polk St.