by Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
This summer, thousands of hungry Jacksonville children will be served chicken by a cow.
From April 16 to June 1, the Roosevelt Square Chick-fil-A will sell $5 vouchers, which fund a boxed meal containing a chicken sandwich, chips and brownies for children in Lutheran Social Service’s (LSS) Kids’ Cafe program.
Kids’ Cafe is a free breakfast-and-lunch program run by LSS, the nonprofit Christian organization that feeds more than 4,000 children year-round at approximately 50 community locations.
Laura Burris, the unit marketing director of the Chick-fil-A at Roosevelt Square, said the restaurant is dedicated to aiding the community through programs such as Kids’ Cafe.
“We feel that these children don’t get the opportunity of experiencing Chick-fil-A,” said Burris.
She said the restaurant’s cow mascot will make trips to Kids’ Cafe locations throughout the summer, distributing the meals.
The restaurant is soliciting corporate donations of $500 vouchers to help fund the partnership with LSS. A display board will be placed at the restaurant featuring the names of sponsoring companies. Each major sponsor will receive a large chicken nugget tray. Five-dollar vouchers will be sold at the Roosevelt location.
“We are talking about the underprivileged children in the Jacksonville area,” said Joe Chimelewski, director of community relations with LSS. “We’re scratching the surface. If we can grow the program throughout the years and maintain a wonderful partnership, we’ll continue to expand it.”
LSS serves needy children and families in 18 counties.
Kids’ Cafe sites include YMCA and Police Athletic League locations.
Donations can be made to LSS by calling 448-5995, or through the organization’s Web site at LSSJAX.org.
Chimelewski said that last year, Jacksonville and surrounding area Chick-fil-A’s supplied chicken noodle soup to the LSS “empty bowls” program, which benefits its clients with proceeds from bowls made by children.
“Almost 50 percent of our client base are who we refer to as the working poor,” said Chimelewski. “These are people who have jobs, but to whom food is still an issue. I’ve never had to make a decision ‘Do I pay the rent, or put food on the table for my family?’ These are some of the private decisions we’re not privy to being made in Jacksonville.”
Chimelewski, who has been with LSS for five years, said for each dollar the organization collects, its food bank gains $8 in food purchasing power.
Burris said hungry children form a bond linking the restaurant chain and LSS, both of which name Christianity as an inspiration for helping the needy.
“I think with sites like this, giving these kids a place to go where they can participate in activities and get fed, we’re keeping them out of trouble,” said Burris. “That, in turn, is helping Jacksonville.”
Lutheran Social Services facts
| Total amount paid by recipients of food | $0 | |
| Number of meals/snacks served in 2005 | 5.6 million | |
| Percent of U.S. population that relies on programs like LSS | 11 percent | |
| Pounds of food/grocery products handled in 2005 | 7.6 million | |
| Number of counties in Florida LSS serves | 17 | |
| Number of volunteer hours donated each month | 1,000 | |
| Number of local people who received 2-3 day emergency supply of groceries in 2003 | 30,000 | |
| Courtesy of: Lutheran Social Services |