Somerville St. Paul Baptist Church providing free lunches for children

By MARTIN C. BRICKETTO
STAFF WRITER
Martin C. Bricketto: 908-243-6609; mbricketto@MyCentralJersey.com
July 18, 2010


SOMERVILLE, NJ — Multiple bicycles parked on the lawn and against the wall at St. Paul Baptist Church on a recent afternoon were just one indication that it may be the hottest new hangout for neighborhood youngsters on summer break from school.


Officials at the church on Hamilton Street for the first time are running a free daily lunch program for children regardless of their religion.


Once the eating is done, the children are welcome to stay for board games, movies and other activities.


“We try to reach out to the kids in the community,” said Ena Fox, a trustee of the church, as children played around her in a downstairs area of the church. “We try to fill the need wherever there is one.”


Fox said the church, which was founded here in 1927, is trying to be proactive and not reactive. The church's pastor, the Rev. Pastor Reggie L. Hall Sr., describes the program as “progressive faith ministries,” she said.


Expected to run through the last full week in August, the program operates using the church's own funding as well as food donations from the community, Fox said. It serves about 30 children every day and typically runs from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., though some of the kids show up earlier, according to Fox.


“We don't want the kids to be misdirected in terms of being idle and having nothing to do,” said Betty Moore, a Sunday school teacher with the church. “We figure we can let them have games or otherwise occupy their time during the summer months, because kids can get into things they really shouldn't be involved with.”


Celeste Bell, Dee Davidson and Alberta Milligan also help run the program.


An aspiring drummer, William Wilkins, 9, said he enjoys the food at the church as well as playing games and watching television. Meanwhile, Quadier Collier, 10, said even though he isn't a member of the church, he feels welcome.


“We get to play games, we get to play with our friends,” Collier said. “It's a nice place to be.”


Fox said the lunches have included sandwiches and fruit and, while the goal is to provide a balanced meal, sometimes the children are treated to snacks such as ice cream. Chicken nuggets were on the menu Thursday.


Church member and borough resident Thomas Van Ness, 83, helps watch the children. He said it helps keep him young.


“It keeps the kids off the street,” Van Ness said about the program.