Food for Thought: Filling stomachs to improve grades
Angela Bases
December 14, 2010
264
The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary is hosting their annual fundraising soup dinner, Food for Thought on January 15. Though the name has shifted from its previous name, Empty Bowls, the mission remains the same, but with a twist: feed children, provide incentives for hard work, and ultimately, change the future.
We were really thinking about not just the hunger, but the Learn to Earn program that we do with the children who come to the Homework Help Center. Children who come to the Homework Help Center, our goal is to help them academically to achieve. And we reward them based on certain criteria. If they come 18 times during a one quarter period, theyre awarded with a trip to CiCis pizza, explained Major Jody Kramer, Co-Commanding Officer at the Salvation Army in Wooster. Really, the academic success of the children goes hand in hand with their need for food.
Further, they also hope to provide more meals to the children throughout the week. Their free homework program runs after school, Monday-Friday, from 3-4:30 p.m., and is available to any school age child in Wayne County. Currently, they can provide meals two days a week.
Were hoping to expand to eventually get to a place where we can provide a meal each night of the week, Major Kramer continued.
The Womens Auxiliary is composed of volunteers, and exists to support the mission and efforts of the Salvation Army. They have a special focus on children, however.
A child that is going hungry, thats messing up at school, that doesnt have that support system, and a broader support system, even than just their family, they find it very disheartening and they can lose hope. So we want to be a beacon of hope to those kids and be their cheerleaders and let them know they can succeed, Major Kramer continued.
Their soup dinner, which will be held at the Salvation Army, has been very popular in past years, and the $15 tickets typically go fast. The event offers a choice of three soups, accompanied by bread, crackers, desserts, beverages, and a unique salsa bowl for each attendant. To purchase tickets, community members can stop at Wooster Glass and meet with Debbie Mackey. She is available from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. They have two seatings, which are at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and can hold 150 people each.
Essentially, their two-part purpose is to use the meals and the incentives to inspire a generation of children to succeed academically – and to also have full stomachs while doing it.
This is an ongoing need Ive seen over the decades, because if their brains arent fed properly, they really cant learn. Unfortunately, we are at an economic time right now where its very tough for parents to feed their kids well balanced meals, and any meals at all in some cases. The Auxiliary really sees this as a way to reach out and help children and indirectly [help] families, explained Beverly Theil, Womens Auxiliary member. If you help a kid you change the future, and this is one way you can help a kid.
