Summer Food Service program

In the summer of 2008, we worked in conjunction with the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) to provide meals for the children of this area. We live in the poorest county in the state of Indiana. More than fifty percent of families are at or below the poverty level. The USDA has a program that will provide money for food and labor if they can find someone to supervise the program. We accepted the challenge to lead this program because many children would not have a hot meal all summer if we didn’t. They survive on cold cereal and peanut butter until they return to school where they can have a good meal. Some of our school administrators have shared with us the fact that there is a marked difference in the behavior of some children as the summer break approaches because they don’t know how they will eat during that time. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! The new Tabernacle building with the large kitchen helped accommodate this program. Most of the storage and preparation of food was done at the ranch. We developed five Feeding Sites in our county and other areas. Feeding sites were established near Freedom, (at the ranch), Spencer, Gosport, Patricksburg, and Paragon. These are some of the most needy areas. CCM can sponsor up to 25 feeding sites and hopes to expand to other areas in the summer of 2009.

Just a note: We are allowed to feed the children lunch and then have a Bible lesson afterwards before we send them home with a snack for the evening. What a great opportunity to share God’s Word and the love of Christ! Keep this program in your prayers.