A Summer of Nourishment: YMCA Rural Non-Congregant Meal Program Distributes Over 11,700 Meals
This summer, the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo was proud to serve the community through the Rural Non-Congregant (RNC) Meal Program, providing 11,732 meals including over 838 gallons of milk to children and families in the west side of Kalamazoo County. The program helped bridge a critical gap by delivering healthy meals directly to residents in parts of the service area that are often hard to reach. The need was clear and consistent—every week, all the bags of food were claimed within the first half-hour of the start of distribution.
The success of programs like this is crucial for the well-being of Michigan's youth. "To grow, learn, and be healthy, Michigan children need nutritious food—not just from school meals during the school year, but also during their summer vacations," said Michigan Department of Education's State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. "Improving the health, safety, and wellness of all learners is Goal 3 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan."
The meals were prepared at the YMCA at Maple's commercial kitchen, with the meal plan created by the Y's Child Nutrition Coordinator, Madison Reynolds. The success of the distribution relied on a well-organized logistics system to get food from the kitchen to the community. Each family received a bag of 7 meals and several snacks breakfasts and 7 lunches to cover a week's worth of meals, along with a gallon of milk for every child 18 and under. This program required a high degree of coordination and focus to ensure all food items were kept at safe temperatures from the kitchen to the distribution site.
The assembly and transportation of these meals were a true community effort. The smooth process was developed through the consistent help of volunteers who dedicated their Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to putting the meals together.
"The first distribution day had some kinks in it but a rhythm and a smooth process that improved week after week was soon established," said Corey Clark, Association Out-of-School Time Director.
A key factor limiting the program was storage challenges. The YMCA was limited in the number of meals it could prepare only by its refrigeration capacity. Looking ahead, Corey added, "We'll be using the year to explore how we can increase capacity so that we can increase the number of families we can serve."
The RNC program allowed the YMCA to extend its mission beyond its usual reach, connecting with new families and providing consistent support. Many familiar faces were seen returning throughout the summer, while new participants were also welcomed each week as word of the program spread.
This initiative was made possible by incredible community partnerships. Sincere thanks are extended to Meijer on West Main Street for their support in ordering and storing milk, which was crucial for solving the storage challenges. The library is also gratefully acknowledged for generously allowing its space to be used as a distribution point.
According to Bobby Ludwick, the Y's VP of Youth Services and Grants, "While the future of this federally funded program is still being determined, the success of this summer proves the significant need for it. We hope to continue this vital work and look forward to the possibility of serving even more families next year, furthering the Y's long-term goal of '1 in 1 by 2031'—a Y program available to all Kalamazoo County residents within one mile of their homes."
For the Y’s June 23, 2025 announcement of this program click here.
For related news from June 26, 2025 out of the Michigan Department of Education, click here.
