Feeding children during the summer months can be difficult for some families. That’s why some kids in Manchester are stepping in to help with the Kids Feeding Kids organization. The program offers free meals to children in need and their families.
“I’m hoping the children can see that the whole community does care and wants to help and be there for them,” said Sharon Bonner who came up with the idea after spending years working in the lunchroom at Manchester Elementary School. “Every spring I started to worry about my kids who didn’t have enough food. I’d worry what are they going to do all summer.”
Bonner knew she had to do something about it. Last year, she teamed up with Pastor Charles Marshall at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester to make this dream a reality.
“For me, the big thing is the partnership and to know that we are able to help to become a part of something that’s bigger than ourselves,” said Marshall. “It was great seeing the whole community come together around this.”
Once the program was created, kids ranging in age from elementary schoolers to teenagers were eager to get involved.
“I heard about it and how we’re feeding kids so I decided immediately that I wanted to do it,” said 11-year-old Ebony Classing. “It’s really fun and we get a lot of kids to serve.”
“I wasn’t really keen on the thought of getting up early during the summer,” said 17-year-old Jeannie Brewer. “But once I got started with it, I really enjoyed it.”
Volunteers would come in early to help set up food provided by Carroll County Public Schools, happy to give a helping hand to those in need.
“They can come here and they work so hard,” said Bonner. “They weren’t thinking I’m going to get service hours or I’m going to get fed or anything. They just see the little ones and they want to make a difference.”
Kids Feeding Kids runs every Tuesday through Friday from 11:30am-12:30pm through August 10th. If all goes well, that could be extended to August 31st.
