Summertime Musings

 (Originally Published Monday, November 14, 2022)

Even as the leaves start to change, we are still bask-ing in the post-summertime-glow of SEAK (Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids). We had a tremendous summer laughing and learning at the playground and getting to know kids in our neighborhood. We added a second location this year and still continued to see new faces every week. Many thanks go out to our volunteers and community partners who coordinated, transported, played, splashed, encouraged, and shared their talents this summer and emphasized the joy of spending time with others. Our community is blessed with an abundance of relationships and commitments for children, especially from places like Shalom Mennonite Church, New Creation Fellowship, First Mennonite Church in Newton, and Immanuel Baptist Church. This program would not have been possible without them and the oodles of support coming from you! This summer we had a 160% increase in the number of meals served to kids and approximately 90% of families attending this program were living in a home earning less than a living wage. This program serves lunches, provided by local restaurants, to kids ages 1-18 and pairs the meal with a fun activity four days a week throughout the summertime months. SEAK got started when we asked the simple question, ‘How do families receiving free/reduced lunches during the school year feed their children when it is summertime?’ We continue to find the answer as our program grows and continues to nourish minds and bodies and we are already dreaming of next summer when we can use the slip ‘n slide again!


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