During the week of June 24-28, 2019, 11 members of East Cobb Branch participated in the YMCA Deliver Lunch Program.
The program’s goal is to serve over 300 children each day over school breaks. It needs many volunteers to help deliver and serve lunches to local kids. These children may not be able to have a healthy meal when school is out. The program also inspires volunteers to communicate with the children.
On Monday, 4 members came. Jiarong and Faith went to Bella Grand, and Cynthia and Jay went to Clifton Ridge and the two groups delivered about 60 lunches in total for 2.5 hours. At that day, a few kids came to pick up the lunches. After the kids finished their lunches they started playing dodgeball with the members.
On Tuesday, Cynthia went to Bella Grand and delivered about 27 lunches for 2.5 hours. Although not many children went to pick up lunches, the members were able to interact with them. Members blew bubbles, played ball, and conversed at the playground where the lunches were served.
On Wednesday, 9 members came. Jiarong, Kevin, Nicholas, Cynthia, Faith, Saloni, and Adit went to Dwell, and Susanna and Selina went to Bella Grand and the two groups delivered about 80 lunches for 3 hours. The kids came to pick up the lunches. After the kids finished their lunches they started playing 4-square and racquetball with the members.
On Thursday, 3 members came to help pack and deliver lunches for 2.5 hours. Faith, Selina, and Susanna went to Clifton Ridge. They delivered around 30 lunches to the kids. The members were able to interact with the children by reading books to them.
On Friday, 6 members went to the apartment complexes to help pack healthy lunches are play with the children. Nicholas, Cynthia, Selina, Susanna, Jack, and Jerry. Cynthia, Selina, and Susanna went to Clifton Ridge, where they packed around 35 lunches in total. A few kids wanted us to read to them after they picked up their lunches.
Our members participated in the whole process of the program packing well-balanced, child-friendly meals, and drinks into a lunch bag, and delivering them to those children. The members packed a special cold treat for the hot weather to cool the children down. One member got to play hula-hoop with a young girl as she was eating her lunch.
Members felt joyed that the children were so happy to receive lunches. Many of them stayed and played games and enjoyed their time outside. The program not only provided a great meal but also provided great exercise for the children. Although the children felt shy at first, the members and children were able to connect quickly.
Attendance: Susanna Huang (8 hours), Selina Huang (8 hours), Jonathan Wang (5.5 hours), Cynthia Ruan (10.5 hours), Faith Huang (8 hours), Kevin Shen (3 hours), Adit Jain (3 hours), Saloni Jain (3 hours), Jack Xu (2.5 hours), Jerry Xu (2.5 hours), Nicholas Zhang (5.5 hours)
Reported by: Jonathan Wang. Cynthia Ruan, and Susanna Huang
