SMU Cares, a group of Spencer Municipal Utilities employees decided to get help from SMU employees last fall to help deliver the SMU telephone directories throughout Spencer and a few surrounding communities. The money earned by employees donating their time, was recently given to Feed Our Children here in Spencer. About Feed Our Children: Through contact with the public schools system here in Spencer, approximately 170 elementary age children have been identified as having a need of nourished food on the weekends. Through this program, a child will take home a bag filled with 4 individual meals and 2 snacks. By carrying it home in a bag that can be placed in their backpack they are not singled out from other children. When they get nourishment, they are healthier, they have better focus & study habits and are less likely to miss class.

A 4 week rotating menu has been created with food that can be easily eaten with or without heating up in a microwave, comes in single servings and is nutritious. Total cost runs on an average of $6 per week per child.

The bags are packed on Wednesday evenings and delivered to the schools on Friday mornings.

For this program to continue it takes volunteers, of which we have had several step up already, and continuous donations. A fund has been established at Living Word Church, 905 10th Ave SE, Spencer IA 51301. Put Feed Our Children on the memo line.