Churches Join Forces To Bring Love Lunch to Ankeny

Correction: A previous version of the article provided the incorrect times for the Love Lunch program. The program is Monday and Thursdays from June 3 to Aug. 12.

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Ankeny area churches have joined forces to offer children of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds a free nutritional lunch and healthy snacks Mondays and Thursdays at Ankeny's Sunset Park.

The Love Lunch program begins June 3 at Sunset Park, 1320 S.W. Third St. and concludes Aug. 12. Lunch will be served from noon to 12:45 p.m. with a program to follow. Snacks will be served from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Resurrection Lutheran Church, St. Anne's Episcopal Church, and Ankeny First United Methodist Church are proving the meals and supervising the meals, snacks, and activities in Sunset Park. The meals provided will meet USDA's nutritional guidelines.

“We believe that good nutrition is essential for learning. Learning does not end when school lets out,” said Kate Pauly, Director of Small Group Ministry at Ankeny First United Methodist Church, in a prepared statement.

 “We want to provide an opportunity to improve children’s lives during the summer by offering both nutritional meals and musical and social development opportunities. We know it takes a community to raise children and we want them to be raised in love. Thus, the name for our Ankeny program, Love Lunch,” Pauly said.

 Activities between the lunch and snacks will range from dance, reader’s theatre, storytelling, water and relay games.