BY RYAN PALENCER — RYAN PALENCER/FLYER PHOTOS
At Lunch Bunch, children enjoy sack lunches in a social environment.
Each session features guest readers, including the Danville basketball team and guard Michael Humphrey.
While some children will be wasting their summer in front of the television, one program in the county is attempting to change that.
The Kids’ Summer Lunch Bunch gives children the opportunity to enjoy lunches with other children, read, and exercise.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to learn about taking care of their bodies, eating healthy, running, and exercising,” Julie Randall, coordinator of the Danville program and a member of the program’s county board of directors, said. “At the same time, encouraging reading. Our slogan is ‘we eat, we read, we run.’... It’s a good opportunity for the kids to do something productive over the summer.”
Lunch Bunch is put on by sponsors and volunteers. Children are invited to gather at selected sites throughout the county for lunch, reading, and exercise.
Though this is the program’s fourth year in Danville, it has been around since the summer of 2004. The program began in Plainfield.
“We just wanted to do it as a community in Hendricks County,” Randall said. “We are in 10 different towns in Hendricks County. We wanted to start in Danville to provide lunch, a running program, and reading to kids in our community.”
Through the years, the Lunch Bunch program has seen a significant amount of growth.
“Our first year, we had about 150 kids per week,” Randall said. “Now were up to 500 kids per week, so it’s a huge difference.”
Participants each receive a sack lunch.
“The lunches are a great reason for doing it, but one of the biggest appeals, I think, is the running,” Randall said. “The kids get really excited to run, exercise, and take care of their bodies.”
In addition to the lunch and exercise, each session provides children with an opportunity to hear a story and even take home a book of their own.
“Every child gets a free book at every session,” Randall said. “Usually a local educator will read a story to the kids too.”
Last year, more than 4,100 sack lunches were served and more than 4,000 books were given to children in Danville alone.
“In Danville, we feed lunches to about 500 kids at two sites,” Randall said. “We have about 300 at (Ellis Park) and about 200 at Clear Creek (subdivision).”
When the children arrive, they are given a lunch, which is donated by a community group.
Children of all ages are welcome to attend the Lunch Bunch programs, which all begin at noon.
Lunch Bunch schedule
n Amo Community Center
June 16 and 30
July 14 and 28.
n Amo-Mill Creek West shelter house
June 9 and 23
July 7 and 21
n Avon Town Hall park shelter
June 9, 16, 23, and 30
July 7, 14, 21, and 28
n Brownsburg Town Hall gazebo
June 9, 16, 23, and 30
July 7, 14, 21, and 28
n Clear Creek subdivision in Danville
June 10, 17, and 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
n Ellis Park in Danville
June 9, 16, 23, and 30
July 7, 14, 21, and 28
Aug. 4
n North Salem Town Park
June 9, 16, and 30
July 7, 14, 21, and 28
n Franklin Park in Plainfield
June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30
July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30
Aug. 4
n Gladden Farms Apartments in Plainfield
June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30
July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, and 30
Aug. 4
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
Each session features guest readers, including the Danville basketball team and guard Michael Humphrey. RYAN PALENCER/FLYER PHOTO
Lunch Bunch returns for summer
- Local News
-
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
The week prior to Memorial Day serves as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.
-
Howie Mandel to serve as 500 honorary announcer
Howie Mandel, standup comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will serve as honorary announcer for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 27.
-
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
-
BCSC raises $30,000 for Race for the Cure
Basketball season may have ended a few months ago for the Bulldog community, but the school system decided to give the Susan G. Komen Foundation one extra large, record assist as they recently announced raising $30,000 in the Race for the Cure fight against breast cancer.
-
Drive for Damon golf scramble set
A golf scramble to raise money for disabled former Ben Davis High School basketball star Damon Parks is set for 1 p.m. June 3 at Riverside Golf Course in Indianapolis.
-
Brownsburg fights back with Relay for Life
For 24 hours, it will be non-stop community versus cancer in town as the Relay for Life event will takes place. The event will start at 5 p.m. June 1 at the Brownsburg West Middle School track.
-
Dawes, county celebrate retirement
The impact that Dennis Dawes has left on Hendricks Regional Health will not be soon forgotten.
-
Young racing team plants roots and more in Brownsburg
When Belardi Racing decided to uproot its operation and move to Hendricks County, they got the idea that maybe they should put some roots down.
-
500 Festival celebrates with breakfast event
With practices and qualifications going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday was a busy day for everyone involved.
-
Relay returns
With battling cancer and raising awareness in mind, the Wayne Township area hosted its Relay for Life this past weekend at the Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
County looks to battle water illnesses
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
