HELP FEED THE CHILDREN THROUGH OUR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
END HUNGER
ABOUT THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
In 2018, we announced that we would begin a school lunch program for the students at our Christian School in grades 1 through 6. It was a tremendous success! To everyone who supported this program the past few years, thank you.
This was a response to widespread hunger and malnutrition among the student body. In 2017, enrollment increased from 302 students to 446. We know that parents signed their children up for school JUST BECAUSE THE CHILDREN WERE HUNGRY. Since the program began we served approximately 70,000 meals in just the first two years.
Every day, each child in the school receives lunch for free, including a chewable multivitamin to help children get the nutrients that they need for growth and development. The lunch program also allows us to add three hours to the length of the school day. Today, more children are getting a nutritious meal with more school instructional hours, and all of the teachers are receiving more pay for more work. This program has a greater impact on more children than any other program at Jonathan’s House. For most of the children in the program, it’s the only nutritious meal that they received that day.
It’s also expensive, because of the numbers of children involved. For 450 children each day, with a meal cost (including 3 staff members, firewood, and food) of $0.50 per meal, the total cost is $200 per day, or $34,20 for the whole school year. Our school director noted that the children have better attendance, better grades, and they are much healthier than before the program started. It’s amazing how much one good meal a day can change a child’s life.
We hope you will consider making a generous donation. It’s going to take a lot of people to make this program a reality again for our children, and we would REALLY appreciate your help. So will the children.
WHY A LUNCH PROGRAM?
Previously, our school day lasted from 8 am- noon, and then our children go home to eat. We hoped that they eat a good lunch at home, but we know that most of them didn’t. The Central African Republic currently ranks #1 on the World Hunger Index, and malnutrition is a major problem in our area. In addition, our lack of a school lunch program limited school instruction to just four hours per day.
THE SOLUTION
This program has three benefits:
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450+ children get a nutritious meal each day. This will help them to grow properly, and allow them to concentrate on their studies rather than their hunger.
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We have doubled the classroom instruction hours at the Christian School. We know that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty that the children are currently living in.
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We have increased the pay of the teachers for the increased school hours and provided new jobs to the African people that collect, prepare, and serve the meals.
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND
You can participate in the program by providing the funds to continue to make it happen. Tax deductible donations can be made HERE. This is an opportunity to change lives in a desperate part of the world. If you have any questions, please contact Carter at carter@jonathanshouse.org or (641)751-7765. This is a large program for our small organization, so please consider helping. Donations are tax deductible. You have the opportunity to sponsor a specific day, such as a birthday or an anniversary, and we’ll send a card on your day to recognize your gift and thank you for your contribution.
THE BIG BONUS
Your investment in this program will last for the life of these children as a result of their physical development and their Christian education.
If you have any questions, need further information, or would like to request a presentation for your small group or church, please contact Carter Strand at carter@jonathanshouse.org or (641) 751-7765.
Any amount, large or small, is greatly appreciated and highly valued by our children. All gifts are tax deductible. A year end receipt will be mailed to your address.
Thank you very much for considering this valuable investment in our children!
Checks can also be made out to:
Jonathans House CAR
and mailed to:
PO BOX 480, Wheaton, IL 60187