Local Lunchbox Chicago feeds children during summer months
Local Lunchbox Chicago has partnered with the Obama Foundation to bring meals to children during the summer months. On Thursday, July 7, the Obama Foundation hosted an event for local organizations to sample food from local vendors. Photo provided by The Obama Foundation
During summer months, young people who might rely on school to receive meals often have to look for other options in order to get healthy meals. With this in mind, the Obama Foundation partnered with the Shah Family Foundation, to bring a pilot program to Chicago that will feed healthy, culturally relevant food to young people.
On Thursday, July 7th, the Obama Foundation hosted an event at Overton Elementary School to celebrate the launch of the Local Lunchbox Chicago pilot program. During this summer, more than 100,000 meals will be served with the program. Local Lunchbox Chicago launched a few weeks ago and 10,000 meals had been served before the community launch.
The goal of Local Lunchbox Chicago is to leverage the money the USDA already provides for organizations that feed children during the summer, with foods they prefer, taste wise and culturally, keeping in mind food allergies and nutrition. The aim is to ensure children lead healthy lives.
The Obama Foundation has been in the community on the ground for years, building relationships and having conversations, as well as listening.
Michael Strautmanis, Executive Vice President for External Affairs for the Obama Foundation, said there was a conversation between the Obama Foundation and the Shah Family Foundation to see if it was something that could be done in Chicago. One of the pillars of the effort with the impact the Obama Foundation wants to have in Chicago is built around healthy communities.
“This is the kind of programming you’re going to see when the Obama Presidential Center opens a few years from today. Obviously, we can’t wait until then to get the work done. We wanted to get started right away,” Strautmanis said.
President Barack Obama has always believed that change starts in communities. When trying to solve a challenge like young people needing food in the summer, that has to start in the neighborhood.
When Overton Elementary School closed, the community stepped up and turned it into a community center. The Obama Foundation also is working with Emerald South to create economic opportunities for people in the neighborhood, leveraging the investment of the Obama Center. Emerald South is providing opportunities to repurpose vacant lots.
“When we knew there was this opportunity to feed children that needed food, and support their families in that way, we had to find a way to get it done,” Strautmanis said.
Gary Comer Youth Center, After School Matters and YMCA partnered with the Obama Foundation for Lunchbox Chicago. The emphasis on culturally relevant foods is for young people to eat delicious, fresh, healthy food.
Dorri McWhorter, President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, said the YMCA has 30,000 children enrolled in summer camp and some of those children might not have access to high quality food. Partnering with the Obama Foundation and Local Lunchbox Chicago would allow the YMCA to upgrade the quality of the meals the campers receive; ensure they are getting healthy and nutritious meals and help support community vendors.
Campers from the YMCA attended the event on July 7th and were able to sample the food prepared by local vendors. McWhorter was glad the campers were able to have the experience and participate.
“One, they get to experience this delicious food. Then, they also get to recognize how important that investment is that we’re making in them, in terms of making sure they have this access to food,” McWhorter said.
Jill Shah, Founder and President of the Shah Family Foundation, said the organization wanted to partner with the Obama Foundation because the Obamas are leaders when it comes to health and wellness. Shah acknowledged the impact Local Lunchbox Chicago has made already, in just a few weeks of launching.
“You can take every USDA dollar that flows into summer feeding and into school feeding, and you can optimize it around these things. Children can have things that are cooked around the corner, by people who know you, know your community and are served to you by people who love you. It’s an entirely different impact for the same dollar,” Shah said.
For more information about Local Lunchbox Chicago, visit www.locallunchbox.org/chi.
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