Kids’ Cafe ready to meet kids’ summer food needs

(Above) Kids spent some time in the garden learning about healthy eating at the 2016 Kids Cafe.-Submitted photo.

by Alli Weaver

Many students and families benefit from free or reduced lunch prices during the school year, but the summer months leave a gap in this program, which Share Life intends to fill with Kids’ Cafe.

  Weekdays from June 5 through Aug. 11, Share Life will be hosting the 2nd annual Kids’ Cafe Summer Lunch Program. All Clear Lake children under 18 years of age are invited to take advantage of the free lunch program at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  Transportation can be provided through the Clear Lake School District, or by emailing Share Life at [email protected].

  “Our primary goal is meeting a need for food security in the summer,” Ashley Coleman said.

  Coleman is a Share Life board member, and co-owner and operations manager of BE WELLness, a health and wellness cooperative, on 4th Street in downtown Clear Lake.  She serves as a local food advocate and health and wellness educator in North Iowa.

  The idea for Kids’ Cafe was first conceived when Sally Duesenberg, principal of Clear Creek Elementary and Sunset pre-school in Clear Lake, brought the need to Share Life’s attention after the school district attempted to push for a summer lunch program in 2015 without much success.

  Share Life, a non-profit group of Clear Lake community members, decided to partner with the Clear Lake School District in hosting this effort for the summer of 2016, proclaiming the Share Life motto: “We truly believe that life is better together!”

  During last year’s program, over 1,500 meals were served in 45 days, providing about 160 children with free meals. At an average of about 34 meals per day last year, Coleman predicts that this year’s turnout will be even higher, given the new downtown location.

  Because Share Life is a non-profit or

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ganization, the effort is entirely based on community donations.  Last year’s Kids’ Cafe was fully funded through about 50 private, business, and nonprofit donors for the community, and 70 volunteers helped out during the 45-day program.

  “We wanted to give the opportunity for people in the community to join in on the effort,” Coleman said.

  Current sponsors of the 2017 Kids’ Cafe program include Hall Realty, Kingland Systems, CL Tel, Mossycup Farms, North Iowa Group - Thrivent Financial, Clear Lake Christian Church, United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, and InterFaith Community Action (IFCA).

  Coleman also stressed the important role that the Kids’ Cafe program plays in building healthy relationships and creating a summer space for interaction between students and their peers, as well as positive adult role models from the community.

  “It’s just an opportunity for people to, not only give back to the community, but to personally engage in a child’s life. That might seem little, but it really makes a huge impact,” Coleman said.

  Volunteers are still needed for this summer’s program. A minimum of seven volunteers were needed per day last year, and with anticipation of a higher turnout, recruiting community members to help with this event is a priority.

  If you would like to become a sponsor or a volunteer for Kids’ Cafe, you can visit sharelifeclearlake.com and click on the “Get Involved” tab,  email Share Life at [email protected], or stop by BE WELLness to sign up.

  Coleman’s business, BE WELLness, strives to source local and healthy food for the community.  Therefore, it only made sense for the Kids’ Cafe to be sourced with the same wholesale prices and health standards that her business, BE WELLness, uses, she added.

  The store does not make money through the program, but rather serves as an avenue to purchase the quality food at wholesale prices.

  Serving 100 percent gluten-free and organic foods, focusing on healthy and safe eating is something that Share Life has partnered with BE WELLness in doing.

  Many children also have allergies and sensitivities that may be difficult to cater to, but Share Life’s partnership with BE WELLness has allowed for accessible options for a variety of needs.

  These accommodations include dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free options, and this list can be expanded upon request.

  “We wanted to make sure that every child who came would be able to eat safely, and that we wouldn’t have to worry about potential allergy issues,” Coleman said.

  With three children of her own, as well as a foreign exchange student to provide for, Coleman is no stranger to the importance of providing nutritious food for growing bodies.

  Coleman asked herself, “Why should I enjoy that privilege of being able to do that for my own children, and not be able to give back and help other children in the community to be able to experience that benefit?”

  This question inspired Coleman to be a part of the effort to expand that opportunity to other children of Clear Lake.

Share Life plans to collaborate on future projects “to promote flourishing in the community,” as soon as 2018.

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