Webster Groves Christian Church (WGCC) has spent the last few years working to find ways to use its building and other resources to serve the wider community. One of the congregation's emphases has been education - especially younger children. Several years ago the congregation began Project NOW, a weekend supplemental nutrition program for children and their families from a local Head Start preschool. Project NOW provides weekend meals and snacks, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs, to about 15 families (60 people).

WGCC has now begun to partner with their local school district to help initiate KSD NOW, a program providing weekend supplemental nutrition to food insecure students in the elementary schools of the Kirkwood School District. WGCC is providing space for the storage, packing, and distribution of the food to teams of volunteers who deliver the weekend packs to the various elementary schools each week.

School district families, staff members, and local service clubs such as Kiwanis and the Optimist Club have partnered with Webster Groves Christian Church and parent teacher associations to help begin the program, which has already surpassed its first fundraising goal of $10,000 - raising approximately $14,000 in just a few weeks! This initial generosity of the wider community ensures that at least 50 students will receive a bag of nutritious food every Friday, and provides stability for this vital program.

Over 100 community participants attended the Kickoff Event and first packing party on August 28 at Webster Groves Christian Church. The event included family activities, and even a free dinner from the Amigos Restaurant Taco Truck!

Thanks to WGCC pastor Rev. Dr. Jeff Moore for this information and photos.