All around Colorado, there are children who dread the last day of school before summer vacation. Instead of looking forward to days filled with outdoor activities, they look ahead and see themselves without much to do in the summer, and all too often, without food. They think of the empty cupboards and refrigerators, and of [...]
Mothers Eat at Now Faith
With choppy Spanish, I spoke with two mothers I have gotten to know over the past couple weeks during the summer lunch. Both mothers are friendly and warm with six children each at the lunch. One family has six daughters, the other has three sons and three daughters. Though we can’t delve into deep conversation, I [...]
First Time’s a Charm
Typically the saying goes, “Third time’s a charm” but for the summer food site provided through RWS Family Life and Youth Learning (RWS) in Commerce City, the saying must be altered. This is their first year as a food site and they have been incredibly successful, especially on Saturday. As a self-sponsored site, they make [...]
Arts and Crafts: I’m Done for Today
My Tuesday afternoons this past summer were spent at Foothills Green Townhomes (a development of Rocky Mountain Housing Development Corporation), an affordable housing community with a high population of Middle Eastern refugees. After lunch, I would help with the girls club, a continuation of Girl Scouts, which runs throughout the school year. Our time was spent planting [...]
Studio School: THE Place to Be
Nearly 200 children and parents enjoyed a delicious meal at Studio School in Northglenn (Adams 12 County) today. They will be finishing up the summer program on Friday so they can prepare for the new school year, but they are still having strong numbers. On any given day, they will have between 2 and 4 [...]
Summer Lunch Provides Stability
Monica (not her real name) came to lunch at a food site with her two boys. She comes every day. Her oldest son is four years old and the youngest is two. For Monica, the summer meal program has been more than food for her and her boys. Two years ago, Monica and her husband were addicted [...]
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Night
Sometimes it’s tough to say good-bye and today was one of those times as it was my last day to help prepare lunch at Bridges of Silence. Today was their last day of school and, consequently, the summer food program. This final day for Bridges consisted of weeding, harvesting, playing games and eating. Watching their wide [...]
