Week opens with meals, crafts for kids and teens
PHOTO BY BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Making name tags on the last day of school at Montgomery Park are members of Montgomery’s ‘Summer Alive’ volunteer team. They are (left to right): Cindy Crawford, Larry Stout, Viking Dietrich, Tiffany Manthey, Richard Miller III, Terry Wommer, Tina Tickle, and LuAnn Potter.
MONTGOMERY – The summer couldn’t be more alive and off to a better start, thanks to a new program developed by the dedication and support of the Montgomery community for their kids. Local churches, businesses, parents, borough officials, the public library and concerned citizens along with Revitalize Montgomery organized a six week program that includes interactive learning experiences combined with healthy lunches made “from scratch” each day.
One of the projects underway is a community garden organized by the registered youth and LuAnn Potter from Muncy. Each day there are three different garden, science and art projects. This week they are making tie-dye napkins and working on the compost bin for the garden. Next week participants will be making scarecrows and paper bean pots for the garden. Outdoor games are also planned as well as guest speakers.
Registration took place on June 4th, the last day of school. Viking Dietrich, Pastor of Montgomery Lutheran (Brick) Church and one of the main organizers was pleased with the 20 families who have registered so far for the program. Flyers were sent out through the school in grades Pre-K through 6th and members have also been recruiting student volunteers from the high school.
The program is operating three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday with organized groups moving as teams from various stations in 20 minute sessions throughout the afternoon. Lunch is always served at 1:15 p.m. with pre-planned menus and prepared meals under the supervision of Cindy Crawford at First Methodist Church.
Crawford said that home cooked meals will be provided from all five food groups – dairy, proteins, fruits, grains and vegetables. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches were served the first day, yesterday, June 9. “We’re going from scratch,” she said, “even cooking the tomatoes.” Menus were planned in advance in order to provide funding for the food. “We will make it fun,” added Crawford who also said she is looking forward to their home made taco day. Her staff of 3 will also be cooking chicken noodle soup this week with fresh chicken cooked the day before with the stock. Clean up and prep work is averaging about 4 to 5 hours a day and more volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen.
Local contributions came to a total of $1700 according to Dietrich who also secured some supplemental grant funding close to $1100 with USDA. Other donations came from the American Legion, Thrivent Lutheran, Montgomery Ministerium, and sorority Xi Theta Delta.
The staff consisting of all volunteers will meet each week throughout the program to assess what is working well and what can be done better.
The Leo Club at the high school and local Boy Scouts are also assisting. Leo Club held a spelling bee to raise funds and parents and kids seemed to enjoy it according to Pastor Dietrich. Sixteen students registered for a fee of five dollars each to compete. This year the program jumped from two days to three days a week and can serve up to 24 accommodations. There is still room for more registrations. If interested in registering a family member or volunteering, call Pastor Viking Dietrich at the Brick Church in Montgomery at 547-6423.
Week opens with meals, crafts for kids and teens
PHOTO BY BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Making name tags on the last day of school at Montgomery Park are members of Montgomery’s ‘Summer Alive’ volunteer team. They are (left to right): Cindy Crawford, Larry Stout, Viking Dietrich, Tiffany Manthey, Richard Miller III, Terry Wommer, Tina Tickle, and LuAnn Potter.
MONTGOMERY – The summer couldn’t be more alive and off to a better start, thanks to a new program developed by the dedication and support of the Montgomery community for their kids. Local churches, businesses, parents, borough officials, the public library and concerned citizens along with Revitalize Montgomery organized a six week program that includes interactive learning experiences combined with healthy lunches made “from scratch” each day.
One of the projects underway is a community garden organized by the registered youth and LuAnn Potter from Muncy. Each day there are three different garden, science and art projects. This week they are making tie-dye napkins and working on the compost bin for the garden. Next week participants will be making scarecrows and paper bean pots for the garden. Outdoor games are also planned as well as guest speakers.
Registration took place on June 4th, the last day of school. Viking Dietrich, Pastor of Montgomery Lutheran (Brick) Church and one of the main organizers was pleased with the 20 families who have registered so far for the program. Flyers were sent out through the school in grades Pre-K through 6th and members have also been recruiting student volunteers from the high school.
The program is operating three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday with organized groups moving as teams from various stations in 20 minute sessions throughout the afternoon. Lunch is always served at 1:15 p.m. with pre-planned menus and prepared meals under the supervision of Cindy Crawford at First Methodist Church.
Crawford said that home cooked meals will be provided from all five food groups – dairy, proteins, fruits, grains and vegetables. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches were served the first day, yesterday, June 9. “We’re going from scratch,” she said, “even cooking the tomatoes.” Menus were planned in advance in order to provide funding for the food. “We will make it fun,” added Crawford who also said she is looking forward to their home made taco day. Her staff of 3 will also be cooking chicken noodle soup this week with fresh chicken cooked the day before with the stock. Clean up and prep work is averaging about 4 to 5 hours a day and more volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen.
Local contributions came to a total of $1700 according to Dietrich who also secured some supplemental grant funding close to $1100 with USDA. Other donations came from the American Legion, Thrivent Lutheran, Montgomery Ministerium, and sorority Xi Theta Delta.
The staff consisting of all volunteers will meet each week throughout the program to assess what is working well and what can be done better.
The Leo Club at the high school and local Boy Scouts are also assisting. Leo Club held a spelling bee to raise funds and parents and kids seemed to enjoy it according to Pastor Dietrich. Sixteen students registered for a fee of five dollars each to compete. This year the program jumped from two days to three days a week and can serve up to 24 accommodations. There is still room for more registrations. If interested in registering a family member or volunteering, call Pastor Viking Dietrich at the Brick Church in Montgomery at 547-6423.
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