WEED AND SEED HELPS FEED HUNGRY

Tangible benefits of the new Weed and Seed program in Cape Girardeau are now visible, as residents themselves are participants in its early success.

Gwyndle McGee, who supervises a Weed and Seed-financed lunch program at the New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church, 800 S. Sprigg, is praising the success, although only in its first two weeks.

Late Friday morning, McGee and several other congregation members were busy planning and preparing the day's meal. She paused briefly to explain the church's example as one illustration of Weed and Seed's ability to positively transform neighborhoods.

The church feeds children from babies to 18-year-olds, McGee said. Adults are also eligible to eat meals at the church.

"We don't turn people away if they're hungry," said McGee, noting those meals are prepared from groceries kept in the church's Food Closet.

McGee said the Weed and Seed program represents ideas she and her husband, church pastor the Rev. Howard McGee Jr., and other congregation members have considered before.

"It's something we've wanted to do, as far as feeding people, not just kids.

"The church discussed (Weed and Seed)," she said. "Everyone agreed that they wanted to do it."

New Horizon's continued involvement in the program requires conformity with government guidelines. Those instructions include specifications on what types of items from four to basic food groups are allowed in making the meals.

To date, the meals have included a variety of entrees, such as pork and beans, hot dogs and fish sticks.

Local health officials have also issued advice on meal preparation, ranging from sterilization of utensils and handwashing to proper cooking temperatures and medical-related concerns, such as a prohibition against people with open sores serving diners. The health officials have conducted routine inspections of the church's kitchen, said McGee.

Feedback, in the form of hungry diners cleaning their plates, indicates New Horizon's lunch program is a success.

"From what adults say, who brought their children, they like the meals," McGee said.

When someone wants to eat a lunch at the church, an explanation of circumstances is not necessary.

"I don't ask, I just feed," said McGee.

Thus far, daily meals have averaged 30 diners, with hopes for those numbers to increase.

"We believe it's going to pick up," McGee said.

Even more varieties of hot meals are planned to be served at the church, based on suggestions provided by the health department.

"We'll be able to serve more hot meals," McGee pointed out.

Other types of treats, such as cookies, will be added to the church's menu, albeit without Weed and Seed coverage.

Preferences are being expressed simply by observing the types of meals consumed.

"We look at how they (diners) respond to the food," said McGee. "If they like it, we'll keep it. If they don't, we'll switch to something else."

Government guidelines require bread and milk be served with all lunches.

A rotation system, consisting of two hot meals and three cold meals, will be arranged at the church. Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with McGee and her congregation's volunteers working from preparation at 10 a.m. to cleanup at 1:30 p.m.

The Weed and Seed initiative began three years ago in Southeast Missouri and recently began programs in Cape Girardeau. The program focuses on community policing, community restoration and empowerment, and prevention, intervention and treatment.