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In the midst of a scorching summer heat wave, groups of local volunteers are repeating the same routine each weekday at four locations around Shawnee.
The area residents are providing free lunches to local children through Shepherd’s Kids Café.
The program, which was launched by Mission Shawnee in 2006, provides about 230 sack lunches Monday through Friday. Organizers say the lunches help bridge a gap and meet needs for children when they cannot get lunch at school.
“Some of the kids wouldn’t have lunch, wouldn’t have money for lunch, or wouldn’t be able to make their own lunch,” said Gaylene Partain, who works with daily meal preparation at the Mission Shawnee headquarters at the intersection of East Main and Center.
Shepherd’s Kids Café kicked off its 2011 year on May 31 and will continue to provide the lunches through July 29.
A team of 10 to 12 volunteers prepares the meals from 8:30 to 11 a.m. each weekday at the Mission Shawnee headquarters building. Another group of volunteers works from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. delivering the meals to local parks and apartment complexes. The team members distribute food, tell Bible stories, and play with the children.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said volunteer Loetta Abbott. “I enjoy seeing the kids laugh.”
Abbott and her husband, Martin, have worked with SKC since it began. On July 15, the program broke in a new commercial stove and served hot dogs for the lunch meal. That was a change from the cold cuts or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which are usually prepared by the volunteers.
“The peanut butter sandwiches are always good,” Loetta quickly added.
Locations for this year’s Shepherd’s Kids Café program include Boy Scout Park at Main Street and Pesotum; Kickapoo Park Apartments and Prince Hall on west Seventh near Kickapoo Street; Dunbar Park and Cypress Point Apartments (formerly Remington Apartments).
Mission Shawnee volunteers include members of several area churches from a variety of denominations.
“Volunteers are critical to this ministry,” said Larry Guest, Mission Shawnee director of ministries.
Youth groups from local churches help with the on-site programs each year. Guest said volunteers offer more than food. Through story times and talking and playing with the children, they form friendships with the kids.
“I love investing in children’s lives,” said volunteer Sarita Jenkins.
Each day, Jenkins and volunteers brave the late morning sun to set up their operation in the covered picnic area at Boy Scout Park. Well before noon, children start to assemble at the location, greeted by the smiling faces of friends who are spending their summer lunchtimes helping others.
“It is a joy to see them feel loved,” Jenkins said. “It does more for me than it does for them.”
Local individuals, churches and members of the business community have made the long-standing community service program a reality. For the 2011 meals, more than $15,000 will be invested in Shepherd’s Kids Café. Contributions are still being accepted for this summer’s program. Guest said a $50 contribution provides summer lunches for a child in the community.
Individuals or businesses interested in supporting Shepherd’s Kids Café can send tax-deductible contributions, payable to Mission Shawnee, to P.O. Box 1223, Shawnee, OK 74802; or visit Mission Shawnee at 126 S. Center Street.
For more details about the lunch program or to volunteer, call 273-2248 or complete an online form at www.missionshawnee.org/sign-up-for-kids-cafe.
In the midst of a scorching summer heat wave, groups of local volunteers are repeating the same routine each weekday at four locations around Shawnee.
The area residents are providing free lunches to local children through Shepherd’s Kids Café.
The program, which was launched by Mission Shawnee in 2006, provides about 230 sack lunches Monday through Friday. Organizers say the lunches help bridge a gap and meet needs for children when they cannot get lunch at school.
“Some of the kids wouldn’t have lunch, wouldn’t have money for lunch, or wouldn’t be able to make their own lunch,” said Gaylene Partain, who works with daily meal preparation at the Mission Shawnee headquarters at the intersection of East Main and Center.
Shepherd’s Kids Café kicked off its 2011 year on May 31 and will continue to provide the lunches through July 29.
A team of 10 to 12 volunteers prepares the meals from 8:30 to 11 a.m. each weekday at the Mission Shawnee headquarters building. Another group of volunteers works from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. delivering the meals to local parks and apartment complexes. The team members distribute food, tell Bible stories, and play with the children.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said volunteer Loetta Abbott. “I enjoy seeing the kids laugh.”
Abbott and her husband, Martin, have worked with SKC since it began. On July 15, the program broke in a new commercial stove and served hot dogs for the lunch meal. That was a change from the cold cuts or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which are usually prepared by the volunteers.
“The peanut butter sandwiches are always good,” Loetta quickly added.
Locations for this year’s Shepherd’s Kids Café program include Boy Scout Park at Main Street and Pesotum; Kickapoo Park Apartments and Prince Hall on west Seventh near Kickapoo Street; Dunbar Park and Cypress Point Apartments (formerly Remington Apartments).
Mission Shawnee volunteers include members of several area churches from a variety of denominations.
“Volunteers are critical to this ministry,” said Larry Guest, Mission Shawnee director of ministries.
Youth groups from local churches help with the on-site programs each year. Guest said volunteers offer more than food. Through story times and talking and playing with the children, they form friendships with the kids.
“I love investing in children’s lives,” said volunteer Sarita Jenkins.
Each day, Jenkins and volunteers brave the late morning sun to set up their operation in the covered picnic area at Boy Scout Park. Well before noon, children start to assemble at the location, greeted by the smiling faces of friends who are spending their summer lunchtimes helping others.
“It is a joy to see them feel loved,” Jenkins said. “It does more for me than it does for them.”
Local individuals, churches and members of the business community have made the long-standing community service program a reality. For the 2011 meals, more than $15,000 will be invested in Shepherd’s Kids Café. Contributions are still being accepted for this summer’s program. Guest said a $50 contribution provides summer lunches for a child in the community.
Individuals or businesses interested in supporting Shepherd’s Kids Café can send tax-deductible contributions, payable to Mission Shawnee, to P.O. Box 1223, Shawnee, OK 74802; or visit Mission Shawnee at 126 S. Center Street.
For more details about the lunch program or to volunteer, call 273-2248 or complete an online form at www.missionshawnee.org/sign-up-for-kids-cafe.
