In January, the Boys & Girls Club kicked off the latest addition to our food program: a free dinner.

Many of our members depend on the school′s food program for their meals. After snack at 3pm, some of them were not eating again until breakfast at school the following morning. The dinner program started on Fridays in January at 5:30, and served an average of 30 kids each time. In February the program was expanded and dinner is now served daily.

In order to accommodate the additional food storage, the Club raised funds for a commercial refrigerator at the 2012 Festival of Trees. Guests purchased 10th anniversary ornaments to support the project, and were entered for a chance to win a hand–made quilt donated by Karen Vosen. John Ulrich won the quilt. He also purchased a total of 40 ornaments, after challenging his fellow guests to match him. The auction raised over $2000, and at the end of the night the Club received an anonymous donation for the full purchase price of the fridge. The remaining funds will be allocated to the Club′s expansion project, which includes a full service kitchen.

Parents were invited to have dinner with club members during Boys & Girls Club Week. Everyone enjoyed the new dinner program.