Food 4 Kids getting set for summer deliveries

Over the years, First Presbyterian Church's efforts to feed children in some of Jefferson City's poorest neighborhoods has become a community-wide effort, event organizer Shelley Swoyer said.

From June 25 to Aug. 15 - a day before classes begin at area schools - teams from nine local churches and nine businesses and government agencies are to begin daily preparation and delivery of lunches to area children in four low-income neighborhoods.

Members of the church serve as weekly coordinators, organizing the volunteers who begin each morning packing lunches with a sandwich, boxed drink, some sort of fruit when available (fruit cups when fresh fruit aren't available) and a granola bar, Swoyer said. Meals are packed in coolers to keep them fresh until they are delivered.

"The food is provided by the Food Bank," she said. "We've been doing this for a lot of years."

Swoyer said monetary donations help the church regularly provide fresh fruit.

She estimated 120 children will receive meals each day through the program.

People living in the area are aware of the program. However, one delivery spot has moved slightly from public housing on Myrtle Avenue to the Buena Vista Street playground, Swoyer said.

"That location might take a few days to build up again," she said.

Organizers will put up posters and fliers at public housing, laundromats and grocery stores. They'll send reminders home with students leaving summer school.