Categories: CharityCommunityEvents/What's HappeningNews

Grove Christian Outreach Center Launches Summer Lunch Program

Volunteers at the Grove Christian Outreach Center preparing meals for the Summer Lunch Program.

News Summary

The Grove Christian Outreach Center in Williamsburg is set to start its Summer Lunch Program on June 23, providing nutritious meals to local children until August 11. Over 120 students are already registered, and families can sign up until Friday. The program requires volunteers for meal preparation and distribution. A drive-thru food drive is also planned for July 24 to collect food donations. The initiative aims to support families during summer while promoting community involvement.

Williamsburg, VA – The Summer Lunch Program at the Grove Christian Outreach Center is set to begin on June 23 and will continue through August 11, aiming to provide nutritious lunches to school-aged children in the Grove community throughout the summer break. As of now, over 120 students have signed up to receive meals, and families have until this Friday to register.

The program operates in collaboration with the Williamsburg-James City County school division, which helps ensure that children receive lunches each week during the summer. To support this initiative, the center is seeking eight to twelve daily volunteers to assist with various tasks. Volunteer responsibilities include preparing and organizing lunches, as well as distributing and delivering them to homes. Parents also have the option to pick up the meals at the center’s office.

The Grove Christian Outreach Center will be open from Monday to Wednesday and on Friday throughout the program period. On Wednesdays, the center will offer two lunches since it will be closed on Thursdays. Families are encouraged to visit the center during pantry hours to access additional resources.

Meals provided through the Summer Lunch Program are made possible by the Gathering Place, a free grocery market run by the nonprofit, along with various food donations collected from the community. In an effort to further support families, a special drive-thru food drive is scheduled for July 24 in partnership with Williamsburg Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1303 Jamestown Road, with a goal to collect 10,000 pounds of donated food items.

The development manager at the Grove Christian Outreach Center has expressed confidence in reaching the food donation goal, citing strong community support as a crucial factor in the program’s success. This annual initiative not only addresses the nutritional needs of children during the summer months but also fosters community involvement and support.

For anyone interested in volunteering, signing up for the Summer Lunch Program, or seeking further information, the Grove Christian Outreach Center encourages residents to visit their website at groveoutreach.com or to call 757-877-1100.