 "...we plan on serving meals to 45 kids, but on any given day – especially during the summer – that number can easily increase by 50% or more." 
| Links & Drinks
Thursday, September 29, 6 - 9P.M.
Potluck Headquarters 621 W. Broadway N. Little Rock, Arkansas (After crossing the Broadway Bridge, Potluck is a stone’s throw west of Dickey Stephens Ballpark) Casual attire Smooth, contemporary jazz by The Joe Vick Combo Reservations $50 each Call 501-371-0303 or click the Donate button below to purchase online
Leifel Jackson, ROCAN’s Director, knows his kids, their families – and family situations – well. I spoke with him in July about his program and our long-time partnership in feeding children at-risk of hunger. Here’s what he had to say:
“A majority of our parents, even those working two jobs, are having a
hard time making ends meet – and our being able to provide kids with
sit-down meals has been a Godsend for families who are struggling – it
gives them one less thing to worry about. Here at the program we plan on serving meals to 45 kids, but on any given day – especially during the summer – that number can easily increase by 50% or more. Food is a big draw for children who don’t have enough to eat at home – and it’s not uncommon for kids – or even older folks in the neighborhood– to show up just for lunch. So far, we’ve never had to turn anyone away. ‘What’s for lunch, Miss Lisa?’ is the first question kids ask when they walk through the door. In a word, the food we receive from Potluck is outstanding and we make the most of everything we get. Any food that isn’t served at mealtime is boxed up and sent home with kids for dinner, a snack, or in some cases, for children to have something to eat for breakfast the next morning.”
Potluck’s KIDS’ PANTRY program provides ROCAN with good food for over 12,000 meals annually. • from Carol Herzog, Executive Director Since its inception in 1997, over 48,000 children living in poverty and at-risk of hunger have benefited from the KIDS’ PANTRY by receiving good food for lunch and/or dinner meals after school and during the summer.
The PANTRY was developed to increase the opportunities of kids at-risk of hunger to gain access to healthful amounts of nutritious food for meals when school is not in session and is Arkansas’ only charitable out-of-school meal program that feeds kids 50 weeks a year. After school programs provide crucial support for struggling families, especially when the primary caregivers work non-traditional schedules. The availability of meals at sites helps youngsters keep hunger at bay while they’re engaged in positive educational and/or enrichment activities that keep them safe, learning – and fed while their parents are working. Every Monday through Thursday, starting at 6 A.M. at Potluck’s warehouse, approximately a ton of food is mixed and/or matched as complete meals and delivered to children at local KIDS’ PANTRY sites. Mixing food – matching a main dish with a vegetable, and/or fruit, salad, etc. – has proven to be a highly effective way of improving the nutritional content and variety of meals for kids. Potluck’s ability to provide KP sites with consistent deliveries of food throughout the year – enables site directors to use increasingly scarce program dollars to improve the quality of programs for children and/or serve additional kids instead of buying food. I’m continually impressed by the fine work our KIDS’ PANTRY partners do on behalf of children – in addition to being amazed by how consistent, simple meals, coupled with positive activities, can impact the life of a child.
P.S. In May 2011, we added a fifth truck to our fleet to increase our ability to better meet the needs of children at-risk of hunger by improving food recovery and distribution. Our newest vehicle – a van for the KIDS’ PANTRY – distributes roughly 7,500 pounds of food a week to local KP sites and is our third truck on the road rescuing food on weekends. "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - The Dalai Lama |
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