THE SALVATION ARMY BROWN BAG LUNCH PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY STATE SENATOR DAN FEYEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ron Jacobson
923-8220
THE SALVATION ARMY BROWN BAG LUNCH PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY STATE SENATOR DAN FEYEN FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN NEED; 26th SEASON BEGINS JUNE 12
Brown Bag Lunch, Fond du Lac’s oldest free summer cold lunch program coordinated by The Salvation Army received State Commendation from State Senator Dan Feyen for its 25-year history of helping combat summer hunger during The Salvation Army’s Annual Civic Lunch May 14.
In 1990 Claudette DeGarmo (Auman) was The Salvation Army Caseworker Fond du Lac parents in distress came to for help. “It broke my heart knowing kids and parents didn’t enjoy summer because the family food budget didn’t stretch far enough,” DeGarmo recalls. “Kids were going hungry. Major Moore (The Salvation Army FdL Officer at the time) encouraged me to create a solution, reiterating the philosophy The Salvation Army is built on, “When we see a problem, we have to find a way to address it.” 
Brown Bag Lunch launched in 1993 and distributed 2600 free cold lunches that the first year. Then as now, each lunch contains a peanut butter or meat sandwich, fruit, chips/snack, and a beverage.
Each subsequent summer, the program increased. When Claudette moved onto different employment in 1997, the Brown Bag Lunch program was firmly rooted within The Salvation Army and the community.
In 2007, Barb Thill brought 33 years of work experience at Sentry Foods and her boundless energy with her when she first volunteered as the Brown Bag Lunch coordinator. In 2017 a staggering 17, 519 lunches were packed and distributed.
This mammoth undertaking succeeds because of community volunteers and donations, Thill and Salvation Army Social Services Director Ron Jacobson emphasize. The program is driven by 20 "regular" volunteers, as well as individuals and groups from churches and businesses who help as they can.
The operation is headquartered in The Salvation Army’s 237 N. Macy St. Fellowship Hall. Assembly begins at 8:30 am. This year’s distribution locations/times: Lakeside Garden Apartments, 391A N. Peters Ave. from 11 am to 11:15 am; Maplewood Commons, 912 Martin Ave. from 11 am to 11:15 am; Church of Peace, 401 S. Military Rd. (Parking lot) from 11 to 11:15 am; and The Salvation Army Corps., 237 N. Macy St., from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm.
For more, go to The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac Facebook or call 920-923-8220.
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