Staff Report
The Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia began an after-school meal program on Monday, Nov. 13.
Through the United States Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Department of Human Services, the Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia will be participating in the Children and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP).
The mission of the program, called “At-Risk After-school Meals,” is to improve the quality of life of all Arkansans by protecting the vulnerable, fostering independence, and promoting better health.
All school-age children in the Magnolia School District (K-12) are eligible. There is no charge for the meals, and a child does not have to be a member of the local Boys & Girls Club to participate.
Meals follow USDA guidelines (appropriate portions of protein, grains, fruits, vegetable, milk) and will be served daily after school 3:30-5 p.m. at the club, located at 1600 Hollensworth Street, across from East Side Elementary School.
The club’s executive director, David Smith, said, “Our eligibility to provide this progam is based on the percentage of free and reduced lunches served by the Magnolia School District. This means that every child, whether they receive free, reduced or regular lunches, may participate at no charge.”
Smith also said, “We serve over 2,000 children annually at our club; attendance in our daily after-school program averages about 300 children. A lot of those kids are hungry when they get to the club. This is an opportunity to provide a healthy meal to any child who wants or needs something to eat. In some cases, it might be the only meal a child gets that evening.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia is a nonprofit organization in operation since 1958. It was founded by members of the Magnolia Junior Charity League to enhance the lives of boys in our community and was later expanded to include girls.
Founding members included Micky Pittman, Lou Weiser, Beth Stewart, Janet Brown , Laura Crumpler, Deane Woodward, Sue Crumpler, Gloria Shanhouse, and Lucy Foster.
In addition to the sports programs, the club offers a variety of other activities such as homework assistance, tutoring, health and fitness programs, STEM, arts and crafts, literacy programs, employment preparation, mentoring, and drug, alcohol, tobacco, and gang avoidance classes.
The At-Risk After-school Meal Program will be another way the club can help improve the quality of life for the children of the community.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA agencies, offices, employees and institution participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited form discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity conducted or funded by the USDA.;