Prior to the summer of 2020, Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS) offered a summer lunch club for children in the Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD). The clubs met at three area locations on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Children could enjoy lunch in the park with other club members or take lunch home. In 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lunch club morphed into a grab-and-go service in the same three locations.
For 2021, the grab-and-go model remains in place. Jonathan Barrett, who recently became director at CVCCS, reported that three lunches per child are available for pickup in one of three locations from 11 a.m. to noon each Tuesday. Locations are Flory Park, 416 Dohner Drive, Lancaster; Country Club Apartments, 323 Aaron Lane, Lancaster; and Ebenezer Evangelical Congregational Church, 23 S. State St., Brownstown. CVCCS also delivers lunches to a summer camp held at Leola Elementary School. "Meals are free and open to all children 18 and younger in CVSD," noted Barrett.
CVCCS director of operations Tom Brady said that about 130 people total are served weekly.
Barrett shared that Monday is prep day, when about eight volunteers arrive at CVCCS, 2420 Gehman Lane, Lancaster, to help put together the lunches. On Tuesday, four delivery drivers and at least one helper per site distribute the lunches. Summer lunch coordinator Emma Arnold said that the rest of the week is spent planning, shopping, and cooking to prepare for the following week.
Arnold aims to provide variety in lunches that meet nutritional requirements. "This is sloppy joes, and this is celery and peanut butter," she said, pointing out some of the foods waiting to be packaged into lunches. "There are certain requirements as far as what has to be included in every meal, but I try to make it varied and fun for the kids within those constraints."
According to Barrett, Arnold is succeeding. "This smells good and looks good," he said, referring to the macaroni and cheese with vegetables being packaged on one table.
Arnold uses creativity as she works with the foods that are donated for the lunches. Barrett said that CVCCS receives lunch items from Sheetz, Giant Foods, and Starbucks, which donates ready-to-eat items. Local farmers donate fresh produce, and Arnold makes sure food is stored and prepared in accordance with safety regulations.
"We do buy some fresh produce, and I have been using a lot of extra from my garden," said Arnold, who added that all the meat and prepackaged items, like chips, are donated.
Barrett is excited about the happenings at CVCCS, and he is glad to be part of the organization. Barrett studied journalism prior to coming to know the Lord. After he was called to the ministry, he received his Master of Divinity from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and then served as a full-time minister for six years before moving to the Lancaster area, where the Lord opened a door at CVCCS.
Readers who would like to know more about the organization may visit https://cvccs.org.
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