Donations needed for after-school & summer program meals

LYNN - Grace Kitchens, which provides meals for the children in the "Bear Necessities" 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program at Lynn Schools, is in need of donations to continue serving those meals for the rest of the school year and also during the summer program in June, when it tries to provide three meals a day.

Raising Arrows of Jasper previously provided food to the after-school program but lost the funding that allowed it to do so in January of 2024.

At that time, Jacob and Amanda Brown decided to make sure meals would continue to be served. Amanda is a third grade teacher at Lynn Elementary who works in the after-school program, as does the Browns' daughter, Ella.

"We just couldn't let them not eat," Jacob said. "I can't make a difference everywhere, but I'm trying to do what I can to make a difference in my community."

They formed Grace Kitchens, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with their fellow board member Tracey Wiginton, and the organization has been providing meals ever since.

The after-school program, whose director is Lisa Davis, is open to every child in Pre-K through eighth grade at Lynn Schools. The most children ever attending at once in the past year was 110, Jacob said, but the average attendance is 80-100 on three days out of five every week.

"Lynn's got one of the largest programs in the state with that many kids," he noted.

21st Century pays the teachers needed to operate the program, who in turn help children with their homework. The program also gives those children whose parents are at work a place to stay until their parents can pick them up.

Grace Kitchens has been able to provide meals for the program thanks to a number of donations, Jacob said.

"Last year, we raised just a little under $13,000 to feed them," he noted. "The big donation of that came from the Walker County Area Community Foundation. They gave us a $5,000 grant, and then we got a $2,500 grant from Modern Woodmen. The rest--local businesses in Jasper donated and individuals, too."

Those include Carl Cannon Chevrolet, Professional Discount Pharmacy and Synovus Bank of Jasper, where Jacob works as the retail market leader of all the Walker County branches.

The Lynn Town Council was another contributor. "I think they gave us a $1,000 last year," Jacob said.

Additionally, from February or March of 2024 till the end of the school year, "(the Town of Lynn) paid a local business, Mava's (Cafe), to prepare the food and deliver it two days a week."

A "special thank you to Lynn Church of God and New Oak Grove Baptist Church in Nauvoo," Jacob added, explaining that ladies from these churches come in on two separate days out of the week to prepare the food.
Other times, the Brown family prepare meals for a hundred kids in their home kitchen the night before they will be reheated and served at the after-school program.

Those interested in helping Grace Kitchens by donating canned foods, packaged breakfast cereals or bars or other items can text or call Jacob at (205) 717-5322.
To make a monetary donation, send a check made out to Grace Kitchens to the organization at 995 County Road 3630, Nauvoo, Ala., 35578, or to the Synovus Bank of Jasper at 200 18th Street West, Jasper, Ala., 35501, where it has an account.

All donations will be greatly appreciated by Grace Kitchens and the children it feeds.

"Grace Kitchens is something we hold dear in our heart," Jacob said. "We want to make sure all the kids are fed."