The Illinois Coalition for Community Services and St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ in Collinsville have partnered to provide needy school age children a free lunch this summer.
St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ, 307 W. Clay St., Collinsville / Photo by Roger Starkey
St. John church, at 307 W. Clay St., serves a hot lunch Monday through Thursday from 12 – 1 p.m. to children 18 and under. There is no need to show proof of residency in Collinsville, Dana Callahan, who runs the program for St. John’s said.
“If they show up and they are school age, we are going to feed them,” Callahan said.
Meals served are the same as served in schools. Callahan said the children enjoy the food served this year more than last year, which was the first time St. John participated in the program.
Corndogs, chicken strips, nachos, Salisbury steak, pizza burger on a bun, barbecue riblets and breakfast items for lunch highlight the menu. The ICCS hired a cook to prepare the food on site and also arranges delivery of food to the church.
The summer food program also offers activities for the kids. Arts and crafts, physical education in the church’s gym, reading lab, sign language lessons and cooking camp start each day at 12:30 p.m. Kids rotate through each activity offered, Callahan said, so they will have an opportunity to experience each.
Activities end at 2 p.m. each day.
About 60 kids were served lunch each day the program was open June, Callahan said. A volunteer staff serves lunch and assists with the activities.
“I recruit many, many, many volunteers,” Callahan said.
However, she always needs more volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact St. John’s at 618-344-2526.
Many children participating in the summer food program have learned about St. John’s weekly soup kitchen, which takes place every Thursday evening, and have started to attend that as well, Callahan said.
The summer food program at St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ ends on July 31, Callahan said.
Other free summer food programs can be found at www.summerfeedingillinois.org.
