Lunch Bunch Celebrates 13 Years of Serving Free Summer Meals

As the school year begins to wind down, the Cuyuna Lakes Lunch Bunch is gearing up for another summer of making sure local kids have access to healthy meals when school is out.

Now celebrating its 13th anniversary, this community program has provided more than 56,250 nutritious meals to youth across Crosby, Deerwood, and Ironton. What began as a simple idea has grown into a trusted effort that supports families and helps children stay healthy, active, and ready to enjoy summer.

Organized by local churches and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Lunch Bunch provides free lunches to area youth during the summer months when school meal programs are not available. This work directly supports priorities identified in CRMC’s Community Health Needs Assessment by helping ensure children have access to nutritious food during the summer.

“Making sure kids have access to healthy meals does more than fill a plate. It supports their growth, their energy, and their ability to enjoy summer,” shared program organizers.

Last year alone, the program served 5,890 lunches, a strong reminder of both the need and the impact this effort continues to have in the community.

Summer Lunch Schedule and Locations

Lunches will be served weekdays beginning June 1 through September 2, at the following locations:

• 11:00–11:10 a.m. at Veteran’s Park in Deerwood, across from the Deerwood American Legion
• 11:20–11:30 a.m. at Grandpa’s Park in Ironton, behind MacDaddy’s Donut Garage
• 11:35–11:45 a.m. at Cuyuna Lakes Community Church, 604 Oak Street in Crosby
• 11:50 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the Cuyuna Range Food Shelf, 302 Cross Avenue in Crosby

Community Support Makes Lunch Bunch Possible

This program is made possible through the generosity of volunteers and partners, including Immanuel Lutheran Church, the St. Joseph Chapter of St. Vincent de Paul, Cascade Methodist Church, Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood, and dedicated employees of CRMC. Together, they are doing more than serving meals. They are showing up for local kids and helping strengthen the well-being of the entire community.

Community members interested in supporting the Lunch Bunch through volunteering, donations, or helping spread the word are encouraged to reach out to Ellen Brandt at St. Vincent de Paul at eltrbrandt@gmail.com.