Summer lunch program starts June 8 at Blessed Sacrament

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 3, 2026

QUINCY — A summer lunch program for children returns this year to Quincy’s south side.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church offers free lunches to all children, up to age 18, beginning Wednesday, June 8.

Serving hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays through Friday, Aug. 7, with lunches available from the school entrance in the alley off Eighth Street between the school and the church.

Meal Coordinator Chris Wiemelt said the church’s program stands out compared to the community’s other summer meal programs available for children.

“We are considered a drive-up site — drive up and grab your lunch,” Meal Coordinator Chris Wiemelt said. “We have a lot of kids that just walk around, hang out in the neighborhood, get a sack lunch, sit on the playground and eat it.”

The informal program requires no registration.

“We want to see the kids, to know we’re giving that sack meal to the child,” Wiemelt said, but “you don’t have to answer any questions. You don’t have to come in, sit down anywhere.”

Meals might feature a sandwich with chips, a fruit cup and milk.

“We do Hot Pockets sometimes, and we try to do baby carrots or apple slices,” Wiemelt said. “This year a new option is pancakes. We might have breakfast for lunch, and with that we’ll have a fruit, a milk.”

It’s the third year for the program funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Participation numbers have been consistent each year and always increase in August after other meal programs have ended for the summer.

“What we do on the south end of town is still important for the area,” Wiemelt said.

Volunteers pack and hand out the lunches.

“We love to have people come through and know that we’re doing what we set out to do — feed the children,” Wiemelt said. “It’s just a good feeling. Something I’ve always loved to do is try to help the children in the community, those that are less fortunate than my children were or myself growing up.”