Monday night the City Council of Central City approved a new food program to operate at South Park this summer and by Tuesday the Leadership Center, based out of Aurora, had boots on the ground as they began their Summer Food Service Program, better known as Lunch Bunch.

The Summer Food Service Program was started by The Leadership Center in Aurora 7 years ago. The organization was informed by many local churches about the need for a free meal service for the youth in Aurora. During the first week of the program, 0-3 kids each day were served. Today, in Aurora the group serves on average 60 kids each day.

The goal of the program is to provide youth, ages 18 and under, a positive place with engaged adults and student leaders who provide healthy and delicious lunches, enrichment activities, and community for one hour a day, Monday through Friday, during each week of the summer to foster friendships and mentorships. With the success of the Aurora program, the Leadership Center was approached by the community of Marquette to start a program there.

“We recognize though it isn’t just about the quantity of meals, but the quality of relationships built,” says Central City Alumni and D4LC Intern, Seth Wert. “Both of these programs have been very successful, so we were again approached about expansion; this time from churches in Central City to start the program there. These programs are designed to provide children with a meal every weekday during the summer months as a bridge between the last day of school and the first day. We already have volunteers lined up to help us make this program successful and are excited about the possibility of creating more moments that matter with youth in Central City.”

The Central City Lunch Bunch Program serves Monday-Friday from 11:30-12:15 in the picnic shelter in South Park. This program is open to all Merrick County youth up to 18 years old. The program is partially funded by the USDA with other funds coming from fundraising efforts. The program is open to all local youth regardless of income or other requirements.

“A lot of people think that this is about impoverished students,” says Leadership Center Executive Director Maile Ilac Boeder. “Maybe that is how it started, but really this is about creating community with engaged kids and engaged adults for an hour. This is where they get to have fun and have a delicious healthy meal. We crossed the 10,000-meal mark last year and I am fairly confident that we will cross the 16,000-meal mark this year.”

This year due to USDA guidelines all youth will be required to eat their meal onsite and grab and go lunches will not be available. There is always plenty of fun each day so staying is an added bonus for both the youth and volunteers. Wert is excited to get to connect with youth in his own community and has been known to lose a few games of checkers while serving up food and smiles.

“I was so excited to get this program started being from Central City and knowing how much the community could need it,” adds Wert. “Maile told me that she wanted me to get the Central City program started this summer and I knew instantly that I wanted to do it.”

Rain or shine the organization plans to carry on their mission of feeding youth and building community at South Park each day during the week. Each week a menu will be posted on the groups Facebook page to show what meals will be served for the corresponding day. The food offers great nutrition, but more importantly the meal is shared with members of the community from all walks of life.

“We get to be a part of their everyday life for three months,” adds Maile. “So, when we see them in the grocery store or we see them at a football game it is really neat. Then kids know that there are people who care and that is really what is about. I suppose the government will tell you about feeding kids, but we will tell you that it is about having meaningful community with kids. Clearly it is more than just lunch.”