Stunning!  No other way to describe the discovery that on average, 50% of our Augusta K-5 children are hungry.  It's true that meal programs exist for morning and noon meals at Augusta's public schools, but nothing exists to fill the evening gap for many children who do not receive the nourishment they need. 

No dinner?  Imagine some of the difficulties these youngsters must endure and certainly, lack of proper nutrition can lead to serious issues.  Concentration would be next to impossible, just imagine thoughts cycling around one's hunger instead of focusing on issues in the classroom.  So not only is the child's  health compromised by lack of nutrition but another serious issue, learning, becomes impaired.

The Rotary solution is to implement a pilot program at Lincoln Elementary School that provides a nutritional third meal during the school year.  The pilot project will inform and guide a six-year expansion plan to include all Augusta public elementary schools.  Empowering the program is a new relationship, between the Rotary Club of Augusta and Augusta Public Schools.

As a result of the coordination between the school administration and  the Rotary Club of Augusta, the  2001 pilot project will kick off at Lincoln School on October 24th. Initially scheduled for three evenings a week with a planned expansion to all five school-day evenings,  the professional staff at Lincoln Elementary, have agreed to take on the job of additional meal planning and preparation responsibilities.  The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Cornelia Brown and Director of Nutrition, Barbara Raymond deserve special recognition and gratitude for their steadfast assistance that has immeasurably aided the development of the project and that ensures delivery of a healthy meal in a safe atmosphere.

Many Rotarian committees have been organized to support this huge undertaking, assuming responsibilities to assure success of the project.  The following is a listing of those committees and goals.
 

Oversight Committee

Goal:  Develop a pilot program in one Augusta elementary school.  (Lincoln Elementary is the pilot school.)

Grants Committee

Goal:  Identify funding sources (including grants) and other resources that will supplement Augusta Rotary's significant investment to help ensure the long term viability of the program.

"Local" Contributions Committee (Food Service & Delivery)

Goal:  Solicit ongoing food, in-kind, and supporting donations from the Augusta business community and non-profit community to support the program.  (Business sponsorship may include funding for all children's meals on a specific day.)

Public Relations Committee

Goal:  To ensure that the general public is aware of the project, i.e. speakers bureau, print materials, talk to media, etc.  The most immediate and pressing task for the committee was that of producing a brochure to define types of donation opportunities necessary for the project success i.e. funds, volunteers, entertainment, etc.

Volunteers & Special Events Committee

Goal:  To recruit daily volunteers to serve and clean up after the meal and, coordinate special events such as Halloween or Valentines  parties and Thanksgiving events.

Pilot Committee

Goal: To review the overall operations of the program, ensuring perpetuity of the project.

Another important component of the Feed the Children project was the development and adoption of a 501-C3 status now known as the Augusta Rotary Foundation, Inc.  Once finally approved by the Internal Revenue Service, the Foundation provides opportunity for tax exempt contributions.  The Foundation has become a valuable tool for donations from individuals and businesses to contribute to a most worthy cause while receiving tax benefits.

Fundraising for the Feed the Children project has been in place for over a year.   The Onion Project, Golf Tournament, and Rotary Auction are just some of the fundraisers to which our local friends and businesses have been contributing to feed children.  Future fundraising activities must be increased to another level to ensure success for this ambitious and expensive program. 

Just one of the ways in which businesses and individuals may help feed the children is via the following sponsorship opportunities.
 

• Platinum Sponsor ~ $1,000 ~ provides a third meal for all needy students in one school for one month.
• Gold Sponsor ~ $500 ~ provides a third meal for all needy students in one school for two weeks.
• Silver Sponsor ~ $250 ~ provides a third meal for all needy students in one school for one week
• Bronze Sponsor ~ $100 ~ provides a third meal for all needy students in one school for one day.

(amounts per preliminary budget)

Sponsors will receive recognition at the school as well as in the Capital Weekly, Kennebec Journal and the Augusta Rotary Newsletter.

Another fundraiser that the Augusta area is about to experience is our first ever Art Auction.  Planned for later this fall and coordinated with the Gardiner Rotary Club, the art event promises to be a lovely night to be remembered.  Watch for more details on this upcoming event.

Day by day, meal by meal, together Augusta Rotarians, the Augusta Schools, businesses and friends can and will make a difference to those children with needs.  As Bill McKenna, President of Augusta Rotary stated, "How can any of us not act, when we know our actions will have profound positive influence on the development of these children."

On behalf of all Augusta Rotarians, thank you to those who have contributed in the past and, to those who plan to do so in the future.