Kids streamed into Second Christian Church in Jefferson City over the lunch hour on Tuesday, some with parents and some by themselves, to take the church up on its offer for a sack lunch.
One girl, who appeared to be about 12, held what looked to be a baby sister in one arm and two sack lunches in her hand.
The church is out to show that for those in need, there is such a thing as a free lunch. Last week, it served lunches to 222 children in the new program, which offers anyone up to age 17 a free sack lunch during weekdays, no questions asked.
That's more than four times the number of churchgoers at Second Christian on any given Sunday. It's those members of the congregation who donated most of the food for the program. The sack lunches typically consist of a sandwich, bag of chips, vegetable or fruit, snack and a drink. On Fridays, they try to offer hot lunches, even if that's just a hot dog.
Malissa Smith, chairwoman of the church's outreach program, coordinates the lunch program, which runs from June 8 until a similar multi-church lunch program kicks in on June 29. That program lasts until Aug. 7, covering most of the summer until school starts back.
The small church, which marks its 115th anniversary this year, takes outreach seriously. "My wife and I are sent here to build the kingdom," said the Rev. Vernell Weston, the church's pastor. "So that's what we're doing. I think that's what God would have us do."
While children lined up inside for their sack lunches, Weston used the opportunity to walk outside and chat with Lataisha Murry, who was driving a carload of children to get lunches.
"How many people in here love music?" he asked, peering into the car. "All right, you all love music. How many singers do we have here? This is what I'm asking - one of these days - don't even worry about having no money, don't worry about having nothing. One of these days come to service at 10:45. Come and see what God has. I'm looking for musicians, I'm looking for singers, I'm looking for praise dancers. I'm trying to build this kingdom right here on the corner."
The church's outreach comes in different forms. Besides offering the free lunches and inviting people to church, they also offer help and prayers for people in the community, among other things.
Murry and her daughter praised the program.
"I think it's a good thing," Murry said, "especially with school being out and kids full of energy and hungry, wanting to eat. And we're already struggling, so when they go to school, they feed them breakfast and lunch, and it kind of gives us a little help. Now that school's out," there's more of a need for food, "so stuff like this helps out a lot."
She said she brings her children and her cousin's children to the church for lunches.
Murry's daughter, Kathy, said: "It helps kids get the food they need."