If summer has a catchy tune, it might be “Bagels and cream cheese and pickles and cukes!”
St. Andrew will once again coordinate the Lunch Bunch at Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center from June through August. This is a
free lunch program for children and youth under 18, no matter where they live. We serve at the neighborhood center, 2651 Roberts Road, Iowa City (just off Mormon Trek, not far from Fareway), Monday through Friday, from noon to 1.
Last year, we served 2,553 meals over 44 days. We averaged 58 kids a
day, although we welcomed 79 kids on one busy summer day. It's a cold lunch, served under the picnic shelter. Kids get to choose what they want from our five food groups. There are no rules about what they must take, and they can come back for seconds and thirds (or more) if they're still hungry.
It's not part of the Iowa City School District or any other agency or
organization. This is a community project we started to feed kids.
It's that simple.
This is a big program that takes big-hearted volunteers, and lots of them!
We need three types of volunteers:
- LEADERS are two-member teams who commit to Monday-Friday for ONE WEEK. LEADERS pick up food from the church, set up, oversee volunteers, direct clean-up, and return leftovers to the church. Time slot for this is about 11 am to 1:30 pm. Leaders must go through a brief training/orientation, and we'll have you shadow veteran leaders before you lead on your own.
- HELPERS are individuals who commit to ONE DAY at a time, arriving at Pheasant Ridge about 11:30 and leaving about 1:15, or whenever clean-up is done. HELPERS will assist in set-up, serve the food, interact with children, and help with clean-up. Helpers are the folks who just show up and take direction from the leaders.
- DRIVERS (one each week) will go to the HACAP warehouse in Hiawatha (about 35 minutes from the church), and select food (mostly fruit and vegetables) that is appropriate for lunches that week. This can be a one- person job, you don't need a huge vehicle, and we'll go with you once before you go on your own. The schedule calls for arriving at the warehouse at 9 am Mondays. Many other HACAP partners across Eastern Iowa do this, as well, so the schedule is firm--it's not usually possible to get there earlier or later. We need drivers who are willing to go just once, or several times over the summer.
Volunteers do not need to be members of St. Andrew to participate. Last year, we had a wonderful crew of community people who jumped in to help.
We need volunteers of all ages--from retirees to elementary-age kids (who must be accompanied by an adult and who can focus on the tasks for one hour). High school students can earn volunteer hours and add this community service to college applications and job resumes.
It's a good way to meet new friends, and to get to know the awesome kids who eat lunch with us.
To help in any capacity, contact Heather Woodin or Sue Swearingen.