The Salem Elks has announced the Hungry Hearts program will resume for the summer on Monday.
Mike Hooe coordinates the program for the Elks, but says there are lots of volunteers who make it possible to deliver lunches every Monday through Friday until school resumes in August.
“We have a variety of volunteer groups that help the Elk’s. The Elk’s will provide all the daily leaders and also do several weeks by themselves. But we also have several local churches and businesses that chip in.”
Hooe says the Salem Community Activity Center, where the meals are prepared, and Produce Plus who assist with ordering of food play instrumental roles in the program.
The Salem Elk’s has a $5,000 “Impact” grant from the national Elk’s organization to assist with the program costs. He notes the Salem Elk’s is the only lodge in Illinois to receive a national grant.
The meal consists of a sandwich, bag of chips, fruit and a desert. Hooe says there is a bonus every Friday.
“Every Friday is book day, and so each Friday along with their meal each kid will be able to pick a book to take home and that is theirs to keep.”
Hooe says meals will be dropped off at eleven each morning at the Salem Community Activity Center on East Oglesby Street, the Bryan Bennett Library on South Maple, the Salem Mobile Home Park on North Broadway, the Marion County Housing Authority Apartments on North Shelby, and at the old Salem Armory Parking Lot at Warmoth and College. There is a separate Hungry Hearts program that will be completed each day for the Iuka area.
Hooe notes last year they delivered 6,000 meals. Over 30,000 meals have been delivered the last four years.
