BY CAMI KOONS
Local businesses and community members are offering sack lunches and other donations to kids who can no longer eat at school and others affected by COVID-19 closures.
Since Monday, Mae’s Meals, D-Dubs Bar and Grill, and Mateo Chiropractic have offered meal bags to children in need of a meal following the school’s announcement to close. The response from their Facebook posts was more than any of the businesses expected.
Meagan Cox of Mae’s Meals was flooded with comments, likes and shares on her Facebook post. Cox said many of the commenters asked how they could donate to help her fill more brown bags and others offered their assistance in delivering meals to the elderly. Cox said the response was overwhelming and amazing.
“The outpouring support from our community is incredible,” Cox said. “My small business is supported by the community so I want to give back how I can.”
Mateo Chiropractic is also offering brown bags of breakfast food to those in need. Mateo Chiropractic is closed for renovations but owner Doug Mateo said he and his family are splitting the bags between Mae’s Meals and the food pantry for distribution.
Mateo said he saw a similar, overwhelming response from the community. Mateo’s Facebook post had over 200 shares with commenters from as far away as California saying they were inspired and touched.
Mateo said in addition to online response, he had patients walk into the office with checks or cash, ready to donate to the cause. Mateo said he directed those funds to the St. Paul United Church of Christ's food pantry.
“Wherever the need is, that’s where we’ll go with it,” Mateo said.
Travis Turner, the owner of D-Dubs Bar and Grill, is offering “Cardinal Kid Meals.” Turner said he has offered the brown bag lunches in the past when he has seen a need in the community.
Turner said the lunches have already helped out, as earlier in the day a little boy rode up on his bike and asked if he could have a meal. Turner said he was glad to have something to offer.
“We will give as much as we can until we can’t,” Turner said.
Each business owner said they treat children as a priority with the bags but offer them to anyone who needs a meal. They also said as the situation changes, they will adapt and try to serve the community however they can.
Mark Dodge, a spokesman for the Eudora School District, said the school is working on a program to provide food to children during the closure. Dodge said the school will release more information Friday.
The Eudora United Methodist Church also held a food drive Wednesday morning, members of the Eudora Bulletin page on Facebook have offered their pantry items, and Twill Trade placed bags of toilet paper, soap and water outside of their doors.
Reach reporter Cami Koons at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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