Summer lunches at park expected to reach 1,500

Article and photos by Ethan Nahté

Several churches and some organizations around Polk County offer either weekly or monthly free meals they provide to the public. Some even have food pantries. Then there are the senior centers who offer meals-on-wheels or daily meals at their facilities.

During the school year, many families depend on assistance from the education system to provide free or reduced meals for their children, or the BackPack Program or something akin. The schools also offer some meals during the summer.

For the past three years, the First Presbyterian Church of Mena has been giving away free sack lunches to people of all ages. Volunteers can be seen handing out Lunches of Love that include a sandwich, fruit and a bottle of water on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at Janssen Park pavilion with a large banner reading “Free Food.” Children and families can be seen playing beneath the pavilion or nearby with bubbles, chalk, or games. They began this year’s program on May 30 and will be continue through

August 15, the day before Mena schools resume classes.

Tricia Stiefer said, “We’re just handing out free lunches, having fellowship and games, to help out the community for those in need. Anybody who wants a sandwich can come up here.”

Mike Landry said, “We don’t turn anybody away. It’s good when we get a lot of children. That’s basically what it started out as, but it’s for everybody.”

Tricia said, “The original premise was to feed the kids when school’s out. They don’t get lunch during the summer like they do during the school year. We just turned it into whoever wants can have it, no questions asked. Take as many as you want, or as many as you need, for here or to go.”

Some of those picking up meals do stick around and socialize. Some find a picnic table away from the pavilion and eat their lunch. Others take their meals on the go. All who came by as the interview took place expressed their thanks to the volunteers.

Tricia has a notebook she keeps handy where she tracks how many meals are given away each week, for all three years.

“[July 18] was 116, which was our biggest one ever. We’re averaging 94 per week this summer. On July 4th we did 70. When it rains, we get 70-80 people.”

Wes Stiefer said, “We’re expecting by the end of summer to giveaway about 1,500 this year. In 2021, we did about 230 in six weeks. Last year we did about 750 in 11 or 12 weeks.”

This year’s tally will also be over a 12-week period.

Wes said, “We’ve had some other churches this year who have been helping, which is wonderful. What we would like to see is other churches step in the coming years and take another day of the week. I dream big. My dream is that we’re feeding people every day of the week all year long so nobody ever goes hungry in this community.”

Landry said, “Even though we have a small congregation, we do quite a bit.”

With a laugh, Wes said, “We have about 70 members. We’re small and mighty.”

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The CALL, members and with several others.

Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves. Green said, “We hope to make it better with each year… We really enjoyed putting the fundraiser on and look forward to doing it again. We raised a little over $700. We are thankful beyond measure for all of our sponsors and friends who participated and supported us.”

“We have many more things in the works.” Lance said.