Summer Lunch & Playtime for Children in Need

See the video above to see all the fun! (Link)

For most school-aged families, summer is a time for things like vacation, fun, food and family. For financially fragile families, summers are marked by anxiety. Without the benefit of free and reduced lunch programs during the school year, parents fear not being able to provide food and quality care for their children; some while working multiple jobs. Summer food insecurity means they may not be able to afford nutritious, meals, or may miss meals entirely.

To help ensure children in at least one such neighborhood have a nutritious meal, fun and fellowship each day, The Rotary Club of Alpharetta has partnered with the YMCA and MUST Ministries to operate a hunger relief program at Aspen Pointe apartments. Sandwiches to feed 100 children are delivered to Aspen Pointe. Every Wednesday, 5 to 7 Rotarians to distribute pre-packaged lunches and spend their lunch break (11:30-1pm) playing outside with the children.

Rotary provided the YMCA with a $2,000 grant to ensure the children not only receive food, but a little bit of summer day camp as well. Up to 35 different Rotarians volunteer (22.5%) for the program during the summer. Several who attend regularly form bonds with the children, who look forward to their return the following week. This program has helped to turn a summer of anxiety into one of fun, food, family and (Rotary) friends.