The Westerville Area Kids Lunch Club is a FREE program that provides children 1-18 with nutritious meals and coordinated enrichment activities throughout the summer when school is not in session at 16 area sites (listed below). The Kids Lunch Club began in the summer of 2011 at Ridgewood Park, and has successfully expanded each year since.

Enrichment Kits are provided to go along with the lunches. These kits contain educational activities with an emphasis on STEM, library materials, nutritional information, and arts and crafts. 

The program runs each summer from late May through early August, outside, and rain or shine. There is no paperwork required! All are welcome.

Each Friday, weekend bags are distributed to the kids. These weekend bags include shelf stable snacks and meals for the weekend including shelf stable milk, canned pasta, chicken/tuna kits, crackers, granola bars, raisins, etc. The Fun Bus visits each site once on Tuesdays and Thursdays during serve times. Staffed by KLC Associates, they deliver popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and a variety of prizes to the kids...a little something extra for the kids to look forward to while on site! 

The following are the program statistics for summer 2022:

• 16 sites
• 29,603 total meals served
• 317 lunches served per day
• 16,188 total lunches served
• 13,415 weekend meals served
• 47,282 pounds of produce

We look forward to summer 2023 and the continuance of this popular program to benefit our Westerville kids!  

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202-690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339; or 800-845-6136 (Spanish).“

WHO CAN EAT AT THE KIDS LUNCH CLUB?

• Children 1-18.

• Students enrolled in school with an IEP up to age 21.

• Adults needing food assistance are encouraged to make an appointment at WARM by calling HandsOn at 614.341.2282
  
   

MY CHILD HAS A FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE FOR MY CHILD?

While we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate, please let us know by calling 614-899-0196 ext 218.
Please note that the lunches are already pork and nut free.  

WHAT IS FOR LUNCH?

Each site leader has a copy of the menu that is kept on site.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AND VOLUNTEER?

If you would like to volunteer at a Kids Lunch Club site contact the KLC associate: klcassoc@warmwesterville.org 614-899-0196.

If you would like to volunteer at WARM fill out a WARM Application and contact Volunteer Services: volunteerservices@warmwesterville.org or call 614-899-0196.

HELP US MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD...

Due to COVID-19, volunteer opportunities with Kids Lunch Club for the summer of 2021 were limited. Additional opportunities may be available in 2022 depending on the status of COVID-19. If you are interested in helping out, please email klcassoc@warmwesterville.org  to learn more.

"Like" our Facebook page, Westerville Area Resource Ministry, to keep up to date on all WARM upcoming events.
If you have any questions contact KLC Associate: klcassoc@warmwesterville.org 614-899-0196.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT KIDS LUNCH CLUB LOOK LIKE?

Volunteers arrive promptly and sign in with the site leader. Our hired crew members have already set up the equipment for the day. Volunteer duties are assigned by the site leader. Lunch is delivered and then served for a 45 minute window. Immediately following lunch, educational or recreational activities begin. This varies every day and can depend on the site.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING AT MY SITE?

Your first and foremost responsibility is to interact with the kids who are coming to eat lunch! The site leader will assign some specific jobs like helping serve meals, hand sanitizer duty, etc.

WHAT DO I BRING?

Just yourself! We suggest bringing as little as possible. Not all sites have a designated space for volunteer items. Leave purses or valuable items in the trunk of your car.

• Wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing and tennis shoes (we operate rain or shine)

• Water bottle if desired

• Don’t forget sunscreen!

CAN I BRING MY CHILD/CHILDREN?

Children must be 14 to volunteer in food tents but yes you can bring your children. In fact, we encourage it!
Bringing kids to a program like this can often be very eye-opening and educational.

CAN MY CHILDREN EAT?

Absolutely! Your kids eating with our kids is a strong relationship building activity. We adjust the number of meals we order each day and are reimbursed for the meals we serve by the USDA.

WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING?

Children must be 14 to volunteer if unaccompanied by an adult. However, you may bring children younger than that to come and participate as an educational experience.

WHERE IS MY SITE?

Each location’s listed address is accurate and precisely where the Kids Lunch Club site is located. Please feel free to use Google Maps or other software.

MY SCHEDULE IS DIFFICULT / I CAN’T MAKE A COMMITMENT FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER, IS THAT O.K.?

Yes! You can come as little or as often as you would like, but we need to know ahead of time.

I WAS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY BUT NOW I CAN’T MAKE IT. WHAT DO I DO?

Contact WARM immediately and let us know. We ask that whenever possible you give us at least 24 hours notice before you cancel a volunteer shift. Remember, the kids are counting on you to be there.