Food Depository grant helps agency connect kids with meals

The van transports 30 children per day across gang lines to and from New Mount Calvary's summer program.

New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in West Englewood – a Greater Chicago Food Depository agency – is making a difference in children’s lives this summer, one van ride at a time.

The church received a $5,000 grant from the Food Depository in partnership with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Illinois program last summer. The funds went to the upkeep of a van that New Mount Calvary uses to safely transport about 30 children across gang lines to and from the church’s summer program, which provides a nutritious breakfast and lunch, plus constructive activities.

 “Our goal is to keep kids off the streets and to feed them as well. There’s definitely a great need,” said Yolanda Morris, children’s program coordinator.

The van serves children in West Englewood, Englewood and Chicago Lawn, and overall the program has seen about 150 children this summer.

“We provide the vision for the child to see something different, but without the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we would not be able to do that,” Yolanda said. “We protect the children and help them get home safely, and we’re only able to do that because of extraordinary sponsors.”