Friday, May. 16, 2008

GRACE Summer Lunch Program Needs Volunteers

By Scott Price

Staff Writer

Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), the charity that serves Colleyville, Grapevine and Southlake, is seeking volunteer groups to serve lunches to children this summer to replace the free school lunch programs.

Last summer, the Feed Our Kids program served 18,600 lunches to children from toddlers through high school. The lunches were served at three locations in Grapevine.

Colleyville resident Brenda McClure, the volunteer coordinator for Feed Our Kids, said this year the lunches will be served at five locations.

"We couldn’t get the manpower in the past that we needed, but this year we said, 'Let’s just do it,’" McClure said.

McClure said about 100 kids will receive lunches at each of three locations. One location is expected to serve 75 children, and one location will serve about 50 kids. A total of 425 children will receive lunches Monday through Friday for 11 weeks this summer.

The 11 weeks, combined with five locations, total 55 "service weeks," McClure said. She said she has 11 more weeks available that need volunteer groups willing to purchase and serve lunches.

The need for the lunches, McClure said, has increased this year.

"I have had churches that have helped in the past tell us that they just can’t help us anymore," McClure said.

She said the cost of fuel and food, combined with the sluggish economy, is putting the pinch on many people.

Groups are asked to supply lunches and volunteers to serve them at one of five locations for an entire week. McClure said arrangements can be made for groups that have enough volunteers but do not have the financial resources to supply food all five days.

McClure said arrangements can also be made for groups that can only provide lunches for part of a week, including churches, Scouts, charity groups, businesses and others.

Food ideas include hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza, corn dogs and chicken nuggets, McClure said. "We do ask that a group provide a fruit each day," she said. "GRACE also provides milk on Mondays."

Lunches are served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. "We just want to make sure they have something to eat," McClure said.

McClure, who has two children who attend Grapevine-Colleyville schools, said she sees parents bring their children to help serve lunch. She said this is one of the few programs where people of almost any age can volunteer.

"I have seen a 5-year-old handing out milk to the kids," she said.

For information or to volunteer, call Brenda McClure at 817-540-6266.