Summer months can cause financial worry and stress for families as children lose free school lunches and parents grapple with childcare needs from June to August.
To give families a hand, Kent District Library’s Richard L. Root Branch, along with 19 other KDL branches, partners with Feeding America West Michigan to provide families with access to summer meals through Gather 2 Grow. The program provides no-cost lunches to youth ages 18 and younger, as well as adults with disabilities through age 26. KDL has partnered with the food bank for six years, and the program has become something families eagerly look forward to each summer.
“The program has been very successful. People really look forward to it,” said Kent District Library Regional Manager Angela Culp. “They’re always asking when we’re starting. Before partnering with Feeding America, we would see teens and preteens spending the day at the library without anything to eat. So, when the opportunity to participate in Gather 2 Grow came along, we were excited because it meant we could finally provide them with lunch while they were here.”
Meals were available grab-and-go style at lunch time, Monday through Friday, for 13 weeks this summer. Children and their families are welcomed at a table near the front entrance, where they can pick up a bagged lunch. During the program’s July 16 operation, lunches included pollo asado, a tortilla, a cheese stick, applesauce, and a juice box, all the essentials for a satisfying midday meal.
The program also strives to provide flexibility in its menu to accommodate different dietary needs whenever possible. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are offered when available, based on food supplies. When a specific option is not included in the day’s meal, the library maintains a partial box of vegetarian alternatives for families who request them. On average, the program provides lunches to 90 to 100 families a week.
Running in conjunction with Gather 2 Grow is the library’s Summer Wonder program. Beginning in the first month of summer, children are encouraged to check out and read books. At the end of the program, children receive a prize for their reading efforts.
Gather 2 Grow brings relief to families
Wendy and her sons, Johnny and Denzel, are among the families served through KDL and Gather 2 Grow. The family has participated in the program on three separate occasions, and each visit has been a positive experience for her boys.
“They have been really happy with it,” Wendy said. “They seem to really love the chips and cheese, and other foods that are offered.”
For Wendy, who works full-time, the summer months can bring added financial challenges. When the boys are in school, Wendy is able to work longer hours. But when school is out, she reduces her work schedule to care for her sons. The reduction in hours means a reduction in income. Since discovering Gather 2 Grow she has experienced some financial breathing room.
“The boys having a healthy option like this is really nice,” she said. “It definitely helps save money because purse strings are tight, and everything is getting more expensive. It’s comforting to know that even when money is tight, I can come to the library between 12 and 1, get my children something to eat, and know that they—and I—will be okay.”
Wendy sees Gather 2 Grow as an outstanding resource and encourages more struggling families to bring their children down and engage with the program.
Our thanks goes out to grantors like the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids and Amway who help make these programs possible with their generosity.