Beyond the Lunch Line: Feeding Kids When School Is Out

Commons Threads (Chicago, Illinois): In hands-on afterschool cooking classes, children from diverse communities learn how to prepare simple, healthy ethnic meals using wholesome ingredients and fresh fruits and vegetables. Each week the curriculum focuses on a different country, such as China, India, Italy, Senegal or Mexico. All lessons emphasize the use of fresh ingredients, the role those foods play in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the importance of adopting healthy cooking and eating habits. The program engages students by activating their imaginations, allowing children who may never have been outside their neighborhood to “travel” to exotic countries through the dishes they create. The program helps students understand the link between diet and health while connecting with their neighbors and their world in bite-sized lessons.

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati: For 70 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati has provided a safe place for the children of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky during non-school hours. At each of nine clubs, the average daily attendance exceeds 950. Last year, more than 12,000 children and teens participated in age-appropriate educational, artistic, recreational and leadership development programming at the clubs. In 2010, the Boys & Girls Club will ensure that snacks and meals be made available to any youth under the age of 18 years that attends the program. The Clubs also plan to partner with other community-based organizations in Greater Cincinnati to ensure youth are aware of other summer lunch and snack program locations—so youths can receive meals at the most convenient location.

We’ll share the stories of the other nominees in our next post. Voting ends June 10 for the Beyond the Lunch Line category. Cast your vote today and help an innovative program win a $25,000 No Kid Hungry Innovation award for feeding kids when school is out.