OUR CHILDREN STILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES

Zionsville, IN – May 15, 2012 – Boone County children still suffer from the consequences of our difficult economic times. “The situation has not improved. In fact we’ve seen an increase from 2,000 last year to more than 2,500 students in Boone County schools on the free or reduced lunch program in the 2011-2012 school year”, says Katherine Lukes, newly appointed Executive Director of the Shalom Community of South Lebanon. “Unfortunately we only reach about 20%, or 500 of these children with our “What’s For Lunch?” meal program” adds Ms. Lukes.

The “What’s For Lunch?” program is designed to offer nutritional meals to Boone county children when schools are out of session. That is no small task and critical with the summer months approaching. Meals are distributed weekly at Love INC in Lebanon, Lions Park in Thorntown, the Fire Station in Whitestown and the downtown park shelter in Jamestown.

“The good news is we have many in our communities working hard to fight child hunger, improve education and better living conditions to those who have been hit the hardest” states Tim Ottinger who leads the Boone County United Methodist Cluster.  The cluster group consists of eight county United Methodist churches and the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home. “The Indiana United Methodist Conference developed this program in 2008 to increase what church organizations can accomplish as a group vs. working individually. We have had great collaboration and success in supporting countywide efforts including raising $5,000 for the “What’s For Lunch?” program in 2011” adds Mr. Ottinger.

“It is appalling to think that in Boone County there are close to 3,000 children that fall into the food insecure category”, says Theresa Hanners, Executive Director of The Caring Center and origin of the “Feeding Our Future” (FOF) initiative. FOF has started three successful programs, KAT, or “Kids At The Table” which provides hot meals to children after school; FOOD PANTRIES at both the Caring Center and Stokes school location in Lebanon; and “TABLE TALK”, a new program last fall to help 20 families manage their food situation. “ “Feeding Our Future” ultimately has a two-part goal. Reduce child hunger by 50% in 2015 and eliminate it altogether by 2020” emphasized by Ms. Hanners.

On May 23rd at 7:00 PM the Boone County UMC Cluster is hosting a “For Our Children” meeting at Centenary United Methodist Church. Centenary UMC is located at 910 Fordice Rd. in Lebanon. “This is our first evening meeting by the cluster group to reach out and inform more of the public about the needs of our children in Boone County” states Mr. Ottinger.

The evening program consists of a presentation and panel discussion about current and planned programs to help our county’s youth. Speakers will include Tim Ottinger of the UMC Cluster; Katherine Lukes from the Shalom Community; Theresa Hanners with The Caring Center and “Feeding Our Future” initiative; and Susan Bennett from the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home.

The Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home (IUMCH) is a long time, well known resource to children in need. Susan Bennett, Public Relations Director will give a preview of the new residence homes opening this July 2012 as well as the new family teaching model being implemented at the facility.

The Boone County UMC Cluster includes United Methodist churches of Centenary, Jamestown, Milledgeville, Otterbein, Salem, Terhune, Thorntown and Whitestown as well as the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home.

For more information on the May 23rd “For Our Children” event or programs supporting Boone County children, please contact Tim Ottinger, Salem United Methodist Church at 317-873-4015 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.