Learning and eating together helps these children develop better social skills and good manners. They learn more about their cultural heritage and those of other children. Educational opportunities at the various agencies vary, according to the interests and needs of the children. All provide nutrition education, mentoring, tutoring and homework assistance, and most have computer training, music, arts and crafts and other special programs. One agency has even established a garden where the youngsters grow many of the fresh vegetables used for meal preparation at the agency.
Many parents help with the programs.
The link between childhood nutrition and mental and physical growth is well established. Through the Kids Cafe programs of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, many of Chicago s children are enriching their lives and their health. The Food Depository delivers emergency food boxes to more than 30 Department of Human Services sites in Chicago. The Food Depository recently signed a contract with Red Cross to create 1,000 disaster relief boxes a year for families left temporarily homeless as a result of disaster. The boxes contain non-perishable food items that will feed a family of four for three to four days.