Summer kickoff party begins with a challenge

By Anne Eickstad

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Daily Republican
The Belvidere Family YMCA provided the ‘Pin the Badge on the Cop’ game and other fun activities for the Summer Lunch Kick Off Party.

Editor

The Belvidere Police Department, City of Belvidere, Belvidere Fire Department and Belvidere Family YMCA hosted a free family fun event on Friday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Highline Drive and Lake Shore Drive. The event, sponsored by Seth Kids from Seth Whitman Elementary, was to feature Magician Zack Percell, and crafts, games and water fun with the Belvidere Police Department.

Children under the age of 18 would be served a free lunch provided through the Summer Feeding Program through the City of Belvidere. The event was planned to be the kickoff to the community-policing program in the area that is held every Friday at the same location.

The day was rainy and cooler than expected. The Belvidere Police Dept. and Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS), YMCA staff, and Belvidere Fire Dept. came out as planned. So did Mayor Mike Chamberlain, City Clerk Shauna Arco, and Alderman Tom Ratcliffe. The magician did not. He said he had prepared his act for wind, if necessary, however his tricks were not rainproof. He re-scheduled for the following Friday.

Jennifer Jacky, executive director of the Belvidere Family YMCA promptly brought out the games they had brought for the neighborhood kids to play. Pin the Badge on the Policeman was popular as were the other games. Officer Blankenship gave all the kids stick-on police badges. The soccer ball was a popular way for them to run off energy.

The lunches had been ordered and scheduled to arrive to feed the kids at 11:30 a.m. They did not appear.

Happily Chris Greenwood, Certified Community Action Professional, was on hand and he went back to Lifescape to pick up lunches and bring them back. The BPD offered boxes of granola bars from General Mills and the kids snacked while playing games.

Members of the Belvidere Fire Department opened their truck so the kids could see all the cool equipment they carry for saving lives. The youngsters and parents thronged around the truck to get a close view.

The lunches were later than expected but they did arrive and the kids ate with a good appetite. They had had a great time playing games, visiting with firefighters and police officers before they enjoyed their satisfying lunch with ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

“In spite of the challenges of inclement weather and the delayed delivery of lunch,” said Mayor Mike, “the patience and commitment of the city departments, residents, and volunteers in the lunch program was evident and impressive. A good time was had by all and the citizens displayed exemplary behavior. We are a blend of a lot of great citizens who do a lot without asking for anything.”

In Boone County, five organizations, in cooperation with the Community Action Agency, are operating summer food service programs helping to keep our area kids healthy and nourished so they can return to school in the fall ready to learn.

Kids and teens 18 years old and under can get free meals at supervised sites such as parks, churches, playgrounds, and community centers throughout Boone County.

Boone County sites:

-Boone County Health Dept., 1204 Logan Ave., Belvidere –11 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; May 29 through Aug. 17.

-Capron Lions Club, 305 E. North St., Capron – noon to 1 p.m. on Mondays only; June 4 through June 25.

-City of Belvidere, 301 Highline, Belvidere – This site is at the corner of Christi Lane and Highline Dr. It will begin on Friday, June 8 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays until the end of August.

The Belvidere Fire Department will be there every Friday (weather and calls permitted) to spray water on the field for the children to run through. The Police Department will give out ice cream after lunch.

-First Baptist Church, 1255 W. Jackson St. – noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; June 7 through Aug. 3.

-St. John’s United Church of Christ, 401 N. Main St., Belvidere. – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; May 29 through Aug. 17.

No registration, paperwork, parental supervision, or ID is required.

Currently, only four in ten of the eligible kids in our community who rely on school meals actually participate in the summer food service program. One reason is that families are not aware that the program is available or don’t know how the program works. Please spread the word to help us power up our kids for a happy and healthy summer.