Feeding the children

Last night I had the privilege of attending a dinner for "Feeding our Future", an effort spearheaded by The Caring Center. As most local readers will know, The Caring Center is a local organization that helps stabilize families in need, and all their work is in Boone County. Part of the evening's program was an update on a pilot program that ran in the spring called Kids at Table, or KAT.

KAT provided a hot dinner, homework help, and general mentoring to 44 Hattie B. Stokes students five days a week for 10 weeks in the spring. The kids were transported to the Lebanon Area Boys and Girls Club after school, and they spent two hours there eating, getting homework and reading help, playing organized games, and interacting with adult volunteers. The results were wonderful, and included measurable academic progress for these students.

KAT is a joint effort of The Caring Center, the Lebanon Area Boys and Girls Club, and Stokes Elementary. Stokes principal Kelly Sollman and Caring Center director Teresa Hanners put together grant funds and a corporate partnership with Aramark (which provides food service management for LCSC) to finance the pilot program.

The challenge from here is to take this pilot and make it a program. Forty-four students benefited for 10 weeks, but Ms. Sollman pointed out that 440 students in her building qualify for free and reduced lunch under federal guidelines. Many of these students would benefit not only from the hot meals, but from the focused interaction with adults that comes with the program. Of course there are many more needy children who attend other schools as well.

If you've ever wondered what you can do to help with a critical local need, here's a great opportunity. The Caring Center and Feeding our Future need funds and volunteers You can donate here, or contact them at 1230 Ransdell Court, Lebanon, IN 46052; phone 765-482-2020.