Kids Need To Eat recently released a summary in words and pictures of a successful summer serving free lunches and other foods for children in our community.
Read all about it in our Fall Newsletter: CLICK HERE.
Individuals interested in joining the Kids Need To Eat, Inc. (KN2E) board of directors are encouraged to attend the next board meeting.
What: KN2E Board Meeting
When: Thursday, September 5, 2019
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Where: El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E. Central Ave.
Agenda: Debriefing Kidz Summer LunchBox 2019, and planning the LunchBox 2020.
KN2E’s Board meets about 5 – 6 times each year to organize the LunchBox program. Meetings typically are held in September, November, January, March, and April or May.
In addition to attending meetings, members occasionally communicate by email between meetings.
KN2E is an all-volunteer program with no paid staff. It’s signature program is Kidz Summer LunchBox. During July and early August, our GLOW Bus (“Green LunchRoom on Wheels”) takes free meals to meal sites located where kids live and play.
All children (ages 19 and under) are invited to eat a free lunch on the GLOW Bus, and are then offered additional foods to take home – including a weekend backpack on Fridays.
In addition, KN2E weekend backpack initiative provides backpacks for USD 490 and other school districts to distribute during June and also the first weeks after school starts in mid-August.
For more information, contact KN2E’s president Judie Storandt by email (jgstorandt@msn.com) or by phone or text (405-308-9158).
KN2E is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To read our recent newsletter: CLICK HERE
Details announced regarding meals and activities at GLOW Bus meal sites.
Starting July 8, kids ages 1 – 18 are invited to eat a free lunch on the GLOW Bus [Green Lunchroom on Wheels] at four meal sites weekdays through Friday August 9.
Alternatively, kids can eat lunch at the Wildcat Cafe sponsored by USD 490 and OPAA! Food Service at Blackmore Elementary School, noon – 1:00 pm weekdays through Friday, August 2.
FOOD VARIETIES
New lunch varieties on the GLOW Bus this summer include sub sandwiches from Subway Restaurant – ham & cheese subs on Mondays, and turkey & cheese subs on Thursdays. On Tuesdays, lunch is a pulled pork sandwich on a bun from Hog Wild BBQ Pit. LockerMate lunches are served on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mondays – Thursdays kids who have eaten lunch on the GLOW Bus are offered take home foods including fresh fruit and/or veggies, breakfast items, and snacks. Fridays children may take home a weekend backpack after eating lunch.
FUN ACTIVITIES
After eating lunch, kids are encouraged to stay for a variety of activities offered Mondays 
– Thursdays at meal sites.
At Silverwood Apts. (SW) and Quail Ridge Apts (QR) activities include:
At the Performing Acts Center (PAC), 500 W. Central, music appreciation days feature local talent. Outdoors games will be offered at the playground across the street. Craft days, books days, etc. will be offered under canopies on the east side of the building.
At Forest Park the city swimming pool is the main activity. On Wednesdays kids who eat lunch on the bus are invited to swim for free using a punch on our pool pass.
Questions? Contact Judie by phone or text (405-308-9158) or email (KN2E@msn.com).
Anyone who would like to host an activity, including groups of co-workers and others, are welcomed to contact us to volunteer.
All children are invited to eat free lunches this summer at meal sites supported by the national Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administered by the Kansas Dept. of Education.
No registration is required for SFSP meal sites, and lunches are eaten on site. Anyone ages 1 – 18 are welcome to come eat lunch for free.
The Wildcat Cafe is a new summer meal site for kids sponsored by USD 490 and OPAA! Food Services at Blackmore Elementary School, 530 N. Orchard. Free lunches are served weekdays (Monday – Friday), noon – 1:00 pm, June 3 – August 2.
Details are available online – http://www.ElDoradoSchools.org – or by contacting the office at any of its schools.
Kidz Summer LunchBox meal sites are sponsored by Kids Need To Eat (KN2E) weekdays, July 8 – August 9. At four meal sites in El Dorado, kids eat lunch on the GLOW (“Green LunchRoom on Wheels”) Bus, and may take home additional foods afterwards.
See www.KN2E.org for details about the four GLOW Bus stops:
These institutions are equal opportunity providers.
In addition, USD 490’s popular summer academy has a new name – Camp Pride – and new location at Blackmore Elementary School, 530 N. Orchard. For USD 490 students currently enrolled in grades K-11, campers are assigned to a group cabin to explore fun activities.
Camp Pride is Monday – Thursday during June, 8:00 am – noon. Free transportation is available, and campers enjoy a free breakfast and lunch each day.
Many thanks to the donors, volunteers, and other supporters who helped Kidz LunchBox 2018 provide almost 9000 meals to kids this summer – and also donate over 
1200 weekend backpacks to schools in Butler County, to fill gaps in the KS Food Bank’s Food4Kids program (which only operates during the school year).
We have already started planning Kidz LunchBox 2019. Here are some easy ways you could help KN2E raise the funding needed for next summer’s meals.
1. Dillons Food Stores CommunityRewards program – support a local charity every time you shop and use your Shopper’s Plus Card. 
2. AmazonSmile Foundation. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. 
3. Make a cash donation to Kids Need To Eat (KN2E) online or by mailing a check. CLICK HERE for details.
KIDZ SUMMER LUNCHBOX 2018
2018 Champions ($2500 +)
2018 Patrons ($1000 + )
2018 Advocates ($500 + )
2018 Promoters ($250 + )
2018 Supporters ($100 + )
2018 IN KIND DONATIONS
Kidz Summer LunchBox provides free healthy lunches weekdays at 7 meal sites in El Dorado. The last day is Friday, August 10. Prize drawings for bicycles take place later that day.
The GLOW Bus – a green school bus converted into a mobile lunchroom – takes lunches to six locations. After eating lunch on the Bus, kids are offered take home foods – including weekend backpacks on Fridays. Diapers also are available for children who eat.
In addition to six Bus stops, kids may eat in a traditional lunch room at the Family Worship Center (FWC), 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Parents, foster parents and other caretakers are welcome to eat lunch with the children they bring.
Wednesday is Free Book Day at Bus Stops – Mondays at the FWC. Spangles lunches are on the menu on Tuesdays.
GLOW Bus Stops
For more information visit KN2E.org, or call 316-833-9959.
