Each Monday through Friday just before noon, volunteer teachers from Gerald Elementary School set up shop in front of Community Outreach.

The volunteer teachers are there to hand out prepackaged lunches to area children who have already signed up for the program. This year, The Bistro at the Mill was chosen to prepare the individual lunches. The lunch program will continue through the end of July. Summer school will begin the first week in August and students will be able to receive lunches at school.

You must have signed your children up earlier in the summer to be eligible for the lunch program. There are still things available for the general public though.

On Mondays, Walmart in Owensville donates less than perfect fruits and vegetables to Community Outreach. These are set out under the canopy in front of the building. Those stopping by for the lunches are encouraged to take advantage of the produce. It is also available to anyone in the community.

Christy Angell, director of the Outreach’s programs, says that in the past, this extra produce was shared with local senior centers. Since the coronavirus pandemic has closed down the centers there is lots of extra produce. Even though her group drops off some of the bounty at Countryside Manor, for the seniors who reside there to use, there is still plenty.

On Friday, the Outreach gets more produce through a program  funded through the USDA. Boxes are filled with a variety of produce and are free to anyone in the community. You will be required to give your name, zip code and number of persons in your family when you pick up a box. 

These simple forms are available under the canopy as well. No one is allowed inside the building at this time.

Since the building also houses the community’s food pantry, special routines have been put into place.

Those needing food assistance will be also be helped under the canopy. A list of available food will be given to the client who can then choose what they need.

Finders Keepers, the resale shop that helps fund the pantry, has been closed at least through the end of July. Angell says that this decision was made to protect the volunteers who run the store. It will be decided later in the month as to whether the shop will reopen in August or stay closed as a precaution. They are not accepting donations for the shop at this time.

Angell, who took over as director in January, says there has not been a huge increase in those seeking help with food. After a decrease in numbers a couple of months ago, the numbers are now about what they were at the beginning of the year.