Some of Wichita's most vulnerable children are at the risk of going hungry when school is not in session. With that mind, Partners for Wichita and the Kansas Food Bank will once again be serving free lunches for children during spring break at various locations around town.
The Filling the Gap program aims to bring food to children who participate in free and reduced-cost lunch programs, but might go without a healthy meal when school is on break. This year, volunteers will serve lunches at 16 different locations in Wichita, Haysville and Oaklawn from Monday, March 14, to Friday, March 18. Box lunches will be served from noon to 1 p.m.
Sheila Cairns with Partners for Wichita says the groups are also accepting food donations of fresh fruit and snacks.
“The fresh fruit needs to be something like the cutie oranges or bananas or something that doesn't require food handling experience to give out just because our sites don't have that," she says.
Free meals through the Filling the Gap program are available for anyone 18 and younger.
Lunches will be available at the following locations:
Oaklawn Location
Lighthouse Church (3401 E. 47th St. S)
Haysville Location
Haysville United Methodist Church (601 E. Grand, Haysville)
West Location
West Heights UM Church (745 N Westlink Ave)
South/Southwest Locations
Cross Point Church (1515 E. Harry) Salvation Army Orchard Corps (1910 S. Everett)
Delano Location
New Covenant Church (1710 W. Douglas)
North Locations
Evergreen Neighborhood Resource Center (2700 N. Woodland)
Inter-Faith Ministries Villa Court (930 N. Market)
Northeast Locations
Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center (2755 E. 19th St.)
Dellrose UMC (1502 N. Dellrose)
Monday, March 14 only–Walmart lot (NW corner of 13th & N Oliver) outdoors
True Word Church (1108 N. Oliver)
Urban League of KS (2418 E. 9th St. N.) Tabernacle COGIC (1502 E. 17th St. N.)
South/Southeast Locations
Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center (2820 S. Roosevelt)
Hilltop Community Center (1329 S. Terrace)
Salvation Army Citadel Corps (1739 S. Elpyco St.)
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