Summer feeding program underway

By Staff
Slade Gilmer
The Russellville Summer Food Service Program now has two locations: the Chucky Mullins Center and the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center.
The free breakfast and lunch program—eligible to anyone from ages 5 to 18— has been a staple of summers in Russellville for several years, but this is the first year the program has any locations besides the Mullins Center.
"The first day, we didn't have anybody," said Derrick Dorn, coordinator of the Bishop Center location. "However, we've increased every day. Wednesday, we had 40 kids, our highest turnout so far."
Dorn stated the inconvenience for certain kids played a factor in the move to the Bishop Center.
"We wanted it here because there are a lot of kids that live in this neighborhood whose parents drive to work and can't get their kids a ride here," Dorn said.
Dorn says that many kids come for both lunch and breakfast, but most come just for the lunch portion of the program.
Linda Freeman, the coordinator for the Mullins Center location, said that her location has also been busy.
"We average about 47 or 48 children per day," Freeman said. "Our highest total has been 51."
The Mullins Center also is home to the foster grandparent program, which Freeman says helps the children.
"The foster grandparents work with the children who are just starting kindergarten," Freeman said. "They also work with the Hispanic children who are not fluent in English to help them understand different things."
Both locations allow the children to play games after the meals are over. In addition, some classes with arts and crafts are offered.
According to Chad Sears, director of the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department, the additional site was a goal of Mayor Troy Oliver, who wanted children from all over the city of Russellville to be involved in the program.
A future goal is to add additional sites at the Westside Apartment Complex and the Eastside Apartment Complex.
The program runs from 8 a.m. until noon, and will be offered until July 17. The locations will be closed on July 2 and 3 in observance of Independence Day.
For more information, call the Bishop Center at 332-8770 or the Mullins Center at 332-8730.