TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Free Summer Lunch for Kids and Teens sponsored by five local churches is now under way. Christ United Methodist Church (UMC), St. Stephens United Church of Christ, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and St. John’s Lutheran Church have once again partnered to provide lunches for kids in the community who may not have access to lunch when school is on summer break.
In years prior to 2020, this Free Summer Lunch program was typically available at the park, but last summer, due to COVID-19, the churches switched the program up a bit, preparing meals available for children and teens to pick up and take home to eat, as a bag lunch. “Because of restrictions brought on by COVID-19, we will be handling this program in the same manner as last year,” a press release announcing the program stated.
That means that, from now through the program’s conclusion on Aug. 27, “Christ United Methodist Church is the central location for all of the meals to be picked up by the child or a parent.” Meals may be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the parking lot of the church which is located near the intersection of East Third and Mill Streets.
“No meals will be eaten on site,” the press release said. “The child is expected to eat at home.”
All five churches will again be participating, providing a meal on a particular day of the week; however, all meal preparation will be done at Christ UMC so that meals can be picked up each week from the same location for convenience. While some meals may be eaten cold, others may need to be heated up at home.
The Community Food Pantry of Merrill is again partnering with the program to provide juice drinks or another beverage, granola bars and/or snack items or fruit cups. “This is a great savings for the churches and a wonderful partnership with the Food Pantry,” the release said.
No sign-up is necessary to participate in the program. Parents and/or children can simply stop by (whether on foot or in a vehicle) to pick up the bag lunch.