Free summer lunch program, under threat of cuts, fully funded by donations
CORRECTION: On May 29, The Daily Register said the Harrisburg school district's free summer lunch program would have a satellite location at the Saline County Area Museum. The satellite location will be hosted in the area around 927 W. Barnett.
A $10,000 donation to the Harrisburg school district<span class="s1">'</span>s free summer lunch program will ensure kids have at least one good meal per day this summer<span class="s2">.</span>
The Fowler Bonan Foundation and Peoples National Bank donated $5,000 each to the program, which served over 4,000 free lunches last summer.
In its third year running, the program has been well attended but unprofitable. Formerly, the program was funded by grants, which all but dried up.
<span class="s1">"</span>When I became aware that the Harrisburg School District summer lunch program may be cut due to lack of funds, I just could not let that happen,<span class="s1">"</span> said Dale Fowler, chairman of the Fowler Bonan Foundation and business development officer at Peoples National Bank. <span class="s1">"</span>No child should have to go hungry and we are going to work hard to make sure that doesn<span class="s1">'</span>t happen.<span class="s1">"</span>
In addition to serving kids at West Side Primary school in Harrisburg, the program will host a satellite location at the Saline County Area Museum, 1600 S Feazel St., said West Side Principal Kim Williams.
Last year, the principal said, the program was hosted at East Side School. The change in location, and the addition of the satellite center, is an effort to see where the program is best attended.
<span class="s1">"</span>We worry about these kids,<span class="s1">"</span> Principal Williams said. <span class="s1">"</span>And this way we know they<span class="s1">'</span>re going to get at least one good meal. We appreciate this (donation) very much.<span class="s1">"</span>
Superintendent Michael Gauch mirrored the principal<span class="s1">'</span>s gratitude for the donation to his district.
<span class="s1">"</span>On behalf of the entire district and community, I want to thank the Fowler Bonan Foundation and Peoples National Bank for the generous donation,<span class="s1">"</span> Gauch said in an email<span class="s2">.</span> <span class="s1">"</span>We agree that this program is a must for the community of Harrisburg and provides our children of Unit 3 the ability to get at least one nutritious filling meal a day at no cost.<span class="s1">"</span>
Parents are also welcome to join their kids for lunch for $3.
Since its inception in 2004, when it started with clothing just 12 kids in Saline County, the Fowler Bonan Foundation has grown to serve 17 counties in southern Illinois.