August 30th, marked the conclusion of our summer meal program. This was our third year operating this program and we couldn't be more proud of the work we were able to do this summer.
Monday - Friday between July 1st - August 30th we would prepare meals for kids in the community at Olympic View Baptist Church. Meals ranged from simple sandwiches to other kid friendly meals like Mac and Cheese or Chicken Cesar Wraps. We even made sure to try and accommodate for dietary restrictions or even religious restrictions as often as possible.
After the meals were prepared they were then packaged and delivered to two different meal sites located at Hidden Hills Apartments and University Place Primary School. Between the two location sites we handed out 2,064 meals to hungry children. We couldn't be more proud of what we were able to accomplish this year.
Understanding need in this community can be difficult at times, but our numbers consistently show that there are children and families experiencing hunger. 2000+ meals isn't a to be overlooked. For many of these kids this meal might have been their only balanced meal of the day.
I remember in 2018 when I was helping pass out food one afternoon. A child no older than 7 came running through Hidden Hills Apartment complex to get his lunch. With a big smile on his face he picked up his meal and before he could even pick up a napkin we had already cracked open his lunch and was inhaling it. Then there was this giant sigh of satisfaction as his hunger needs were met. This took all of three minutes but left a lasting imprint on my mind.
While our numbers might never be as high as our neighboring communities, we still have a responsibility to make sure children here aren't overlooked. The need is very real.
I hope as you read about our impact in addressing these issues you feel compelled to join us on our journey. We always need the help of volunteers. We also would love if you considered becoming a monthly donor. Both options have a profound and powerful impact on our organization and the community we support.
- Douglas Stoeckicht, Executive Director
We wanted to leave you with a memory too. This is a thank you letter from one of our summer meal recipients. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, prayed, and provided any level of support this summer. This is as much a love letter for you as it is for us.
