Summer food program beneficial

This is the first year Patricia Lewis (pictured) has brought children to the summer food program at the Boys and Girls Club in Bossier City.

But it probably won't be the last.

The program started Monday and ends July 31.

Lewis heard about the program from her niece, Lesha Payton, whose kids Karrington Cook, 8, and Koran Cook, 7, participate in the program.
Payton, who tutors children at the Boys & Girls Club, said the summer food program is an excellent program.

"This is a great program and it helps provide nutritious meals to kids during the summer," she said.

Lewis was at the Boys and Club today with grandkids Jayla Thomas, 8, and Jonathan Kinsey, 4; and stepchildren, Dee Caldwell, 4, and Sharda Caldwell, 7.
"It gives kids something to do and helps keep them off the streets," Lewis said about the program.

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Bossier City is one of seven summer food sites sponsored by the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana.

Kimberly Harper, (right) unit director at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Bossier City, said the program has gradually been building.
"We have about 50 to 60 kids a day and a lot of them come right around lunch time and breakfast time, because when school is out they don’t have anywhere to get food," she said. "I think it’s good because a lot of kids that would be hungry can get something to eat. They appreciate it and that’s the best thing about it."

This year the Food Bank has access to pre-packages called Meal Breaks.
A peek into a Meal Breaks box revealed beef sticks, peanuts, apple sauce, a cookie and juice.
There’s no cooking involved, which makes it easier on the different agencies.