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After school program in KCMO provides kids with food, homework help

Posted at 7:59 AM, Feb 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-23 08:59:43-05

Food for thought. We’ve all heard and, probably, used that well-worn phrase.

But, at the Waldo Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, it should really be “Food and thought!”

Monday through Friday, from about 4 p.m. - 4:30 pm, dozens of young scholars under the age of 18 show up to feed their minds and, especially, their bodies.

A lowly conference room becomes The Kids’ Café!

All part of a national program, facilitated locally by Harvesters, it reaches children who may otherwise not get anything filling and nutritious until the next day at school.

Sarah Biles of Harvesters reminds us that one in five children in our area are “food insecure.”

A program like Kids’ Café not only gives young people a safe place to be after school, but it also provides healthy, great-tasting food. Basic but vital.

According to Joel Jones of the Kansas City Public Library, children use the after school time to socialize, read and do homework while waiting for rides or before heading home.

Sure, like any library, the Waldo Branch and the other Kansas City Public Library branches that participate are concerned about overdue books.

But, with Kids’ Café, they’re more concerned with overdue meals.

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Joel Nichols can be reached at joel.nichols@kclive.tv.

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