EPalumni.Com
by Robert Castillo
April 19, 2012
EAGLE PASS - In a matter of days the Kids Cafe program will be ready to provide hot after-school meals to children in our community at the Seco Mines Community Center.
David Lopez, the Community Center Director explained that they should be prepared to serve as many as possible but do have an age limit of 7 to 12 year olds. Parents will be expected to drop off their child and pick them up later. Lopez has worked with the youth for the past 10 years and previously worked as the Director of Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation.
According to Lopez, they have a bulding contractor currently making some changes to the center in order to accomodate the food preparation for the Kids Cafe program . The remodeling work should be completed by the end of this month in preparation for the program.
He also added that aside from the hot meal that the program provides, area volunteers from local high schools and colleges will continue to help with the after-school program of tutoring, help with homework and hands-on experience with computers. They are also providing board games. The Center is opened from 3:30pm to 7pm during the week.
The Kids Cafe is a program sponsored by Maverick County, Texas A&M and the Laredo Food Bank.
According to sources in child nutrition, "many children in low-income neighborhoods or rural communities do not receive well-balanced evening meals, either because their parents work late hours or they simply cannot afford good wholesome food. Children must receive proper nutrition in order to develop properly and perform well in school."
"We are very excited about the Kids Cafe program and hope that we have a good turnout." said Lopez. " I will be doing the outreach hoping to inform as many as possible about the program"
