One of the saddest truths about hunger in America is the number of children who do not have enough to eat. More than one out of five Kentucky children is at risk of going hungry due to their family’s limited income. Kids Cafe is a program of America’s Second Harvest specifically designed to serve an evening meal to children at risk of hunger. More than 60 Food Banks nationwide currently operate Kids Cafes. In an effort to expand its fight against childhood hunger, God’s Pantry Food Bank has brought the Kids Cafe program to Fayette, Fleming and Harlan counties and hopes to expand to other counties as resources allow.

Current Kids Cafe Sites:

In Fayette County

Repairs of the Breach at the 7th Street Community Center (corner of Elm Tree Lane and 7th St.) Serving Monday through Friday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Manchester Center, operating at the Carver Center, 522 Patterson St. Serving Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings at 4:00 p.m.

WECEP (West End Community Empowerment Program), 498 Georgetown St. in the Black and Williams Center Serving Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Shiloh Baptist Church, 237 E. 5th St. Serving Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m.

The Rock La Roca, 1015 N Limestone Street. Serving Tuesday & Thursday mid-day and Wednesday evening.

In Harlan County

Cawood Ledford Boys & Girls Club, 1 Positive Palce at the Boys & Girls Club in Harlan, serves Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings.

Tri-City Boys & Girls Club, 409 Smith Avenue (the Boys & Girls Club) in Cumberland, serves Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday evenings.

In Fleming County

Assembly of God Church, 721 Mt. Sterling Avenue, Flemingsburg, Dinner served from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays Breakfast served from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

Purpose

The Mission of our Kids Cafe Program is:
To provide meals to children at risk of hunger, in an environment that is safe, friendly and within their own neighborhood.

Why Kids Cafe?
The reality is that hunger affects children in ways that impact them for the rest of their lives.

Hunger impairs a child’s ability to concentrate, study and learn.
Children who attend school without proper nutrition perform significantly below their peers and have more school absences due to illness.

Hunger limits a child’s growth emotionally, physically and mentally during the most important years of development. Despite federally funded programs, too many children are falling through the cracks, especially during the evening hours. Kids Cafe is a collaborative effort designed to provide children with the nutritious meals they so desperately need and deserve. Kids Cafe often provides children with more than just food, offering them emotional nourishment critical to healthy development, improving their self-image and enhancing their ability to learn.

In fiscal year ‘06-’07 God’s Pantry’s Kids Cafe program provided more than 22,400 meals to children in three counties.

For more information about Kids Cafe contact Peggy Shugars (859) 288-5315