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.

The COVID-19 outbreak impacted the program last summer with a switch to grab and go lunches and forcing the cancelation of the onsite activities. In place of these activities, WARM handed out Enrichment Kits to go along with the grab and go lunches. These kits contained educational activities with an emphasis on STEM, library materials, nutritional information, and arts and crafts. 

In addition, the Kids Lunch Club program served a shelf stable breakfast (for the next day) along with the lunches throughout the summer.

The Kids Lunch Club wrapped up the 2021 program reporting the following:

• 16 sites served
• 408 chilcren served per day
• 55,555 total meals served
• 20,818 lunches served
• 18,277 self-stable breakfasts
• 16,460 weekend meals
• 39,710 pounds of produce distributed

Testimonial..."I just wanted to say thank you to all volunteers who helped distribute kids' lunches this summer! My kids received lunches at Newcastle Townhouses this summer and truly enjoyed the experience and the lunches and gifts they received. The people working were tremendously kind, cheerful, and genuinely happy to be there. Thank you again for working so hard, we have been blessed by your service!"...Angie

2021 Site Locations

Abbey Lane Apartments
4301 Goldengate Oval
Columbus, OH 43224
12:15-1:00pm

Alum Creek South Park
535 Park Meadow Rd. 
Westerville, OH 43081
11:15am-12:00pm

Brookeville Apartments
6803 Sharon Court
Columbus, OH 43229
11:00-11:45am

Hanby Park
115 East Park St.
Westerville, OH 43081
11:00-11:45am

Huber Village Park
362 Huber Village Blvd.
Westerville, OH 43081
11:00-11:45am

Metzger Park
137 Granby Place West
Westerville, OH 43081
11:15am-12:00pm

Minerva Park
Community Park, corner of Maplewood Dr. and Alder Vista Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
12:15-1:00pm 

Newcastle Townhomes Apts
6797 Spring House Ln.
Columbus, OH 43229
11:00-11:45am

Northtowne Elementary
4767 Northtowne Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43229
12:15-1:00pm

Parkridge Park
4497 Brokaw Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
12:30-1:15pm

Parkridge Village Apts.
4340 Thornapple Circle East
Columbus, OH 43231
12:30-1:15pm

Ridgewood Park
5402 Buenos Aires Blvd.
Westerville, OH 43081
12:15-1:00pm

Strawberry Farms Park
5137 Marden Ct.
Columbus, OH 43230
12:30-1:15pm 

Sunbury Town Square
51 E. Cherry St.
Sunbury, OH 43074
12:30-1:15 pm

Walnut Ridge Park
525 E Walnut St.
Westerville, OH 43081
11:15am-12:00pm 

Westerville Estates
11050 Fancher Rd.
Westerville, OH 43082
11:15am-12:00pm

“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.