Grace, my soon to be thirteen year old daughter, is looking forward to the end of school and the beginning of Summer! She has a busy schedule planned. So it was with some interest that I read, an article by Sue Shellenbarger in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, "Helping overbooked kids cutback."
The story focused on the stress and anxiety children are feeling because their lives are becoming so busy with camps, music lessons, and all kinds of activities. The idea is that all these extra curricular activities give our children an advantage as the grow up and prepare for their life's vocation. I won't argue the fact.
At the same time, the end of school has a different impact for nearly 1 in 4 of the children across the South Plains. The end of school means the end of school breakfast and lunch programs that serve many of these youngsters. The meals they receive at school gives them the energy to learn, to play, and to develop into productive members of our community.
This summer, their focus won't be on activities to help them get ahead. Instead, they are looking for place to get fed. The South Plains Food Bank begins its Summer Lunch Program as soon as school lets out. In addition, we will start seeing more children showing up at our community soup kitchens.
Hopefully, getting fed this summer will help these children get ahead when school begins this fall.
The story focused on the stress and anxiety children are feeling because their lives are becoming so busy with camps, music lessons, and all kinds of activities. The idea is that all these extra curricular activities give our children an advantage as the grow up and prepare for their life's vocation. I won't argue the fact.
At the same time, the end of school has a different impact for nearly 1 in 4 of the children across the South Plains. The end of school means the end of school breakfast and lunch programs that serve many of these youngsters. The meals they receive at school gives them the energy to learn, to play, and to develop into productive members of our community.
This summer, their focus won't be on activities to help them get ahead. Instead, they are looking for place to get fed. The South Plains Food Bank begins its Summer Lunch Program as soon as school lets out. In addition, we will start seeing more children showing up at our community soup kitchens.
Hopefully, getting fed this summer will help these children get ahead when school begins this fall.
1 comment:
you have truly added more sunshine to the summers of 25% of the students mentioned. what a great program!
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