By FRED KRONER
Nine years ago, a summer meal program was implemented for residents of the Candlewood neighborhood in east Mahomet.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has altered many of life’s routines as we used to know them, the Candlewood summer meal program – after undergoing a restructuring in format – continued to thrive in 2020.
Under the coordination of organizer Linda Meachum, area churches provided volunteers on a weekly basis to make certain there were enough meals to distribute on a regular basis each weekday.
Prior to the June 1 start to the program this year, Meachum was unsure what to expect.
“The school district wasn’t going to provide lunches in the summer and MAYC was going to provide lunches in town, so we decided to give it a go,” Meachum said.
“We had no idea about numbers or how it would work, but God is good and His plan is unbeatable.”
In years past, lunches were served upstairs in the pool room at Candlewood. Children and adults went through the line and were served either hot or cold meals.
If food was left over, they were offered seconds or the chance for take-home packages.
“Food was prepared off-site and brought in, kind of like a pot luck,” said Meachum, who has been involved with the program from the outset. “Each church made their own menus and prepared their own food.”
This year, all meals were only available for carry-out.
“I had no idea if it would work or if it would be needed,” Meachum said, “but when I asked the churches, they were all onboard.”
In fact, a new church joined in this summer.
“We welcomed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” Meachum said.
That addition raised to 10 the number of area churches that were actively involved. The others were The Vineyard, Mahomet Christian, Our Lady of the Lake, First Baptist, Community Free, Lutheran Church, New Beginnings, Grace and Mahomet United Methodist Church.
“Many churches prepared their lunches at the pool house upstairs,” Meachum said. “They would then box them up and send them down to the front door, where there was a table manned by members who would distribute them as people came to pick them up.
“We had walk-ups and cars that would come and request anywhere from two to 10 lunches. Everyone (working) wore masks and there was rarely any waiting.”
Meachum said her workload as project coordinator is not as great as might be envisioned. The churches play a prominent role in providing a smooth operation.
“Our current churches ask to keep the same week each summer, so all I have to do is check in on them in the spring and make up the schedule,” Meachum said.
There was plenty of variety in the food that was available,
“Each church did their own thing in preparing lunch,” Meachum said. “Some had Domino’s pizza. Some used McDonalds, and a couple of the churches partnered with Public Health and had lunches delivered from MAYC for the kids.
“Adults lunches had to be prepared separately.”
There was never a shortage of volunteers.
“During my week, I always had four to six helpers and our lunches were prepared upstairs, except sloppy joes, which were made at home,” Meachum said.
The rewards for the workers and organizers were obvious based on the reaction of those who were served.
“Everyone who came to get a lunch was thankful,” Meachum said.
It took time this year for word to get around about the details of the pickup.
“The first two weeks were very slow, but things picked up, and by the end, we had served almost 3,000 lunches in 10 weeks,” Meachum said. “We saw more adults each day than in the past and that was good.”
When the summer food distribution program was first instituted in 2012, about 30 persons per day were served.
By contrast, Meachum said those numbers have gradually increased on a yearly basis.
“Last year, we served anywhere from 50 to 100, depending on the day,” Meachum said. “The past few years we also welcomed MAYC one or two days per week when they came out to swim.
“They would swim first and then eat with us, increasing our numbers on those days to 120 to 150.”
In all, the numbers served in 2020 declined from 422 in 2019 to 285 this year before it ended on Aug. 7.
“With the pool being closed this summer, we lost some traffic since kids were not coming to swim each day,” Meachum said. “In the past, they would come eat and then go swim.”
Meachum said there are plenty of people who deserve recognition for the continuation and success of the summer food program.
“The Lions club gives me money each year to buy supplies for all of the churches,” Meachum said. “In the past this included plates, plasticware, napkins, bowls, garbage bags, cleaner, cups, etc. I contact the churches, set up the schedule, stay in touch with Bud Parkhill and his secretary, and purchase all the supplies needed for each church.
“This year, I bought lots of take-out containers, zip-loc bags, brown paper sacks, napkins, hand sanitizer, cleaner, foil sheets and anything else that could be used for takeout. This helps all the churches in that they only have to worry about food and drink. The supplies are for everyone. The Lions Club is wonderful.”
Additionally, Bud Parkhill remains an ardent supporter.
“Bud Parkhill has provided us a place to operate, tables and chairs, a refrigerator, and last year he had the building air-conditioned,” said Meachum, who took over organizer duties in 2013 when Jane Fisk moved from the area. “This year, someone repainted the entryway and overall made the place look more welcoming.”
As she recapped this summer’s program, Meachum is filled with positive thoughts.
“I am so pleased with how things went this summer,” Meachum said. “We had some new people and lots of familiar faces as well.
“I usually went out once a week to see if anything was needed, but these churches have this down to a science. We never know exactly how many will show up, but somehow it all works out. We rarely run out of food. This is the one area where all the churches are involved and invested.
“It’s a wonderful program.”
She hopes it will continue to grow and has ideas on how it can be tweaked to make it even better.
“I look forward to continuing on for many years,” Meachum said. “I would love to have signs to put up around the park to better advertise when lunch begins, but overall, I love this program and am thankful that so many people are involved in the day-to-day operation of feeding others.”
