St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Boyertown Area School District are teaming up to provide free lunch to children while school is not in session.
Beginning July 11, Boyertown will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Department of Education.
Charles Haddad helped to coordinate the efforts with St. Johns and the school district. The program will run for four weeks; the church will serve as an open site. Anyone 18 years old or younger is welcome to participate. There are no qualifications regarding income.
“It’s the first year that Boyertown is doing it – it’s the pilot program and hopefully it can be expanded in future years,” said Haddad.
“In Boyertown we have noticed an increased need,” said Boyertown Assistant Superintendent Robert Scoboria. “We have added a breakfast program to schools and we have explored some weekend opportunities to students as well. We appreciate the help of St John’s as a partner.”
There will be about 50 students brought each day from the local elementary schools. These students are enrolled in the summer tutoring programs at Boyertown and Colebrookdale.
Scoboria explained how the school district received funds from the Berks Community Prevention Partnership to provide transportation for students from Boyertown and Colebrookdale to access tutoring at school and the summer lunch program.
With the 50 students built in, the program welcomes another 50.
“We can handle 100; It’s a big unknown what’s going to happen,” said Haddad.
Jane Machamer, wife of Senior Pastor Dr. Bob Machamer, says she has had an interest in this area for quite some time. “We know that we have the food programs during the school year and that’s great but then what do we do in the summer months when these children that do not have access to enough food – how can we help there?”
Machamer is one of the many volunteers that will be acting as a table host during the lunch. The hosts will help the children get acclimated.
The meals themselves are being prepared by the cafeteria staff at Boyertown Junior High West. From there they will be transported to the site in coolers.
“There are strict menu guidelines – you need a protein, a starch, a fruit and milk. It will be a cold lunch,” said Haddad. Also, in addition to feeding the children, there is going to be a daily activity.
Molly Kulp and Lauren Frey, current college interns at St. Johns, are planning a 30 minute activity each day for the children.
The activity will be something physical to get them moving. Haddad has also reached out to local police and fire departments to see about potential demonstrations.
“Asides feeding the children’s tummies, we’re trying to feed their minds also,” said Haddad.
Machamer spoke about how the first year is usually the most difficult for programs like this, because of the paperwork and the unknown variables. “The unknown is how many other students will be coming in, how old they’ll be, will they be walking in or brought by parents? As our first year, we’re going to be learning a lot.”
The four-week pilot program will run Monday through Friday, July 11 to Aug. 5., at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown beginning at 11:45 a.m.
