The Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson City on Monday started extending its hours until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and now offers dinner and an evening snack to children.
Executive Director Stephanie Johnson said in the almost year since she began work with the center, she's learned that not all of the kids are fed dinner.
"In trying to have conversations with them, I would ask what they had for dinner last night," Johnson said. "Soon I learned to ask if they had dinner. Many of them were not eating."
Johnson said some would also tell her stories of walking to convenience stores to get something hot, cooking their own noodles or simply not eating.