Mission Shawnee Feeds Needy Children in Summer

More than 80 percent of Shawnee school children rely on free or reduced breakfast or lunch during the school year. A group is making sure these kids don't go without during the summer.

Tuesday, July 14th 2009, 7:13 pm

By: News 9


By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

SHAWNEE, Oklahoma -- More than 80 percent of Shawnee school children rely on free or reduced breakfast or lunch during the school year. A group is making sure these kids don't go without during the summer.

The group is called Mission Shawnee, and they're on a mission to feed Oklahoma children and their families. Demand is way up this summer, which means the organization needs help to keep its operation up and running.

It takes a lot of volunteers to pack and deliver 250 meals a day to six locations. Many of the volunteers are young, kids helping kids make it through the summer months.

The volunteers give kids sack lunches at apartment complexes and parks in Shawnee. They quickly learn the kids depend on meals during the school year, and in the summer, the children rely on programs like this one.

"The hardest for me was when some little girls asked me if they could have extra because they didn't have any food in their house," said volunteer Christy Kinnett.

For the past four years, Mission Shawnee's dedicated themselves to serving the community with nourishment and spiritual guidance.

"Our big concern is that we cannot address all the need, but we're doing what we can do," said Bob Dawson with Mission Shawnee.

The Mission has served 9,000 meals so far this summer, which is more than they handed out over the entire summer last year. They need $2,500 to keep going.

"We're good up ‘til about the last two weeks and we'll see what happens then. We've never not had enough funds, it always comes in," Dawson said.

Mission Shawnee serves lunch at various locations, Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. Call 273-2248 for more information, or visit Mission Shawnee's Web site.

List of lunch locations:

Mission Shawnee/Good Shepherd Chapel Building - 126 S Center, 1/2 block south of Main, corner of Center and Walnut, formerly the Immanuel Baptist Family Life Center.

Boy Scout Park - The Pavilion and nearby areas. Main at Pesotum streets.

Cypress Point Apartments - 1803 E. Remington, 1 1/2 blocks east of Brian. Meet near the laundry and pool areas.

Dunbar Park - Corner of Dunbar and Oklahoma streets at the picnic area.

Kickapoo Park - 1002 W 7 Street (Also known as Prince Hall Apartments).

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