Summer for kids typically means pool time, 4-H projects, sleeping in and if they’re lucky, maybe even a family vacation. Summer means school is out – a usual victory for many – but it’s also when school cafeterias close. This loss of a consistent, reliable source of daily nutrition can be stressful for many families, but in Mitchell County, a community effort is addressing a crucial need.

A Community Commitment

Eleven years ago, three women in Beloit saw a need for feeding kids in the summer and the Beloit Summer Kids Café was established.

“These women came together and in two weeks, they raised around $17,000,” Katie Cox, a science teacher in Beloit and volunteer for the program, says. “And it’s all community based. None of our funding comes from any government money.”

“It’s about finding those people who are passionate about this kind of mission,” Ashley Eck, another volunteer says. “There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, and we have committees established. Luckily, our community is made up of people with big hearts – and I’m sure we’re not unique in that because Kansas is made up of so many great people. It takes a village.”

Every weekday of the summer except Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, volunteers feed community children a nutritious lunch at the Zion Lutheran Church’s backyard playground. With support from area organizations and companies, the Summer Kids Café sees an average of 200 kids each day, with the most popular day bringing 300.

“We have tried to find ways to eliminate the stigma of coming to our Summer Kids Café,” Cox says. “We had a free bike repair day, so with the help of a generous sponsor and folks who volunteer their time and expertise to repairing bikes, we saved about 70 bikes and fed 300 kids. That’s not a bad day.”

Farm Bureau Fixins

The program hasn’t had any issues finding volunteers and supporters. One supporter is the Mitchell County Farm Bureau, which sees the opportunity to connect with kids about agriculture and provide them a meal – a symbiotic relationship.

“We love the idea of this summer café, and we are fortunate to be involved,” Dallas Fuller, Mitchell County Farm Bureau president says of their involvement with the program. “Along the lines of food insecurity, it gives kids an understanding of what agriculture is and the role it plays in their lives. We live in a rural community, but some of these kids probably haven’t been inside a tractor cab. Not only are we helping feed these kids, but we’re also providing an educational experience.”

As one of the sponsors of the Summer Kids Café, Mitchell County Farm Bureau organized farm machinery, horses, calves and more animals for the kids to experience one day.

The meal provided by the county Farm Bureau consisted of freshly grilled hamburgers, homemade baked beans, slices of watermelon, milk and even homemade ice cream.

“With the help of the End Hunger grant from the state Farm Bureau organization, we’ve been able to raise good money for a really great program,” Fuller says.

As kids played football in the parking lot, basketball on the court, climbed into a tractor and pet the farm animals, volunteers were busy preparing a free delicious and nutritious meal for its community’s children.

Do they really have to go back to school?

 

Learn more about the Summer Kids Café on their Facebook page. Learn more about the End Hunger grant provided by Kansas Farm Bureau here. 

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