INKSTER, Mich. – Many students across Metro Detroit are already out of school for the summer.
For some families, access to hot, nutritious meals becomes harder when cafeterias close.
That’s why community partners are working to eliminate barriers to food access by offering free breakfast and lunch to kids during breaks.
One of those sites is in Inkster at Demeko’s Kitchen & Grill, where organizers are spreading the word about a summer meals program called Eat Up and Meet Up.
“We give them a full meal,” said Lillie Powell of Demeko’s Kitchen & Grill.
Powell said serving the community has been her family’s mission for more than five decades.
“That’s all I know is giving back,” Powell said.
This summer, Powell and her team are giving back in a new way.
They are making sure children have free, nutritious meals while they’re away from school.
“We’re doing very good. A couple of days, we had like over 45 kids. And this is our first week,” Powell said.
Demeko’s Kitchen & Grill is partnering with the nonprofit Help for Homelessness & Beyond Ohio-Michigan to host Eat Up and Meet Up.
The program provides free breakfast and lunch for children 18 and under, Monday through Friday, through Aug. 11.
“A lot of times, they don’t get the opportunity to have food. The only food that they get is at school,” said Roxy Frazier-Hives, founder of Help for Homelessness & Beyond Ohio-Michigan. “So, some kids, breakfast and lunch is generally what they’re getting, and then when school is out, they don’t have anything.”
Organizers say kids can stop by Demeko’s for:
- Breakfast: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Children can also stay between mealtimes for activities such as arts and crafts and games.
“When they are here with me, I know that they are safe. I know that they are not getting into trouble,” Frazier-Hives said. “I’m teaching them new things; they didn’t know anything about hopscotch and jump rope.”
When we stopped by the site on Friday, a representative from the state arrived to present Demeko’s with a special award recognizing its community work.
“We just want to tell you how much the State of Michigan appreciates all the work that you do,” Christonna Campbell said.
Powell and Frazier-Hives believe the summer initiative will be successful with continued support from community members, not only to help feed children, but to keep them active and engaged.
“We don’t have a basketball rim,” Frazier-Hives said. “So, anybody that has a basketball rim that we can get for the summer, yes, please.”
Organizers say donations of items such as board games, books, basketballs, and crayons would be helpful this summer.
For more information, contact Roxy Frazier-Hives at 614-589-0193.
There are Eat Up and Meet Up sites across Michigan.