Lunches on Lowe Lane

What am I doing this summer? Yes, I am reading a lot of books, going to the pool, and also working out a lot. But, the best thing I am doing is serving lunch to some kids in Roswell. Today I am allowing myself to have a lazy day. Lazy as in sleeping in till 12 and then watching tv and finishing yet another book. But, I also wanted to write about my experience on Lowe Lane. My church, Roswell Community Church, has adopted a road for the past I don't even know how long. It's Lowe Lane and it's in Roswell of course. It's a road filled with low income housing with several different units on the street. We as a church has had a small carnival and gave Thanksgiving dinner to all of the homes. We are now able through government help to give a hot lunch to the children on Lowe Lane. I went Monday and Weds to help out. Each of those days the kids were served milk, hot dogs, fruit, and vegetables. The church has paid for a unit and each day have people signed up to help with serving food. Monday a wonderful family brought a canvas and paint. On Weds I heard some of the girls asking about if an artist was coming in that day. I felt bad and wished that I had brought something for them to do.

I had a great idea that I would bring my nail polish to give the girls and Mom's a mini manicure. I think it would be nice to have someone make their hands pretty.

So, that's the gist of things but I wanted to now talk about what I think about my experience at Lowe Lane. I have been to Guatemala and have seen people's eyes light up when they are given much needed medical attention. I have fed children our left over lunches on a mountain top. I have met a little boy and girl in Brazil that are homeless and sell candy/gum to just get pennies to live on. I know which of my kids at school are on free and reduced lunch/breakfast. I have reminded my nuggets to put more food on their plate and to go to breakfast when I know that they haven't eaten in a while. I have a change purse in my desk to help with my kids lunches at school. I CAN'T STAND at the end of the year, if the children don't have enough money in their lunch account, they get a cheese sandwich and small drink. I also give them extra snack or buy graham crackers to go with the cheese sandwhich. The children shouldn't have to deal with parents forgetting to give them lunch money or if their parents don't have enough money for lunch.

And so, I went Monday and also Weds to help with lunches. They have a woman named Patty and her niece Priscilla is the cook that makes the food. The church is the ones that come in as the servers and get to talk one on one with the kids. There has been 95% Hispanics who have come to eat lunch. Mostly the mom's come with their little darlings while some kids come and eat by themselves. There are things you supposed to do and not supposed to do. Only the kids are able to get a lunch which at times I feel bad that the Mom's can't also have a hot dog. But, some kids don't eat all of their lunch and the Mom's can have what's left.

I think that the biggest eye opener is that we are feeding some of these kids the only food that they are getting in the day. All of the neighborhood goes to Mimosa Elementary School. I was told that 80-90% of the children are on free/reduced lunch. So, if the parents are having trouble with providing breakfast and dinner, why wouldn't they have a problem with the extra nourishment time of lunch? Patty, who I have loved getting to know, told me while putting beans on a plate that one of the girls came up to her and asked if we would be there the next day. The girl had said that they didn't have any food in their home. It's makes me also realize that I need to be thankful of what I have. Yes, I have debt issues, but I have a roof over my head and food on the table. I am grateful to my sister and how she has allowed me to live with her. So, when people ask me what I have been doing this summer, I can say yes, I have been working out and going to the pool, but I also have been able to help others but also really helping myself.