Lunch With a Purpose supports Harry K Foundation

Lunch With a Purpose/Coastal Delaware held its final gathering of the season May 1, hosted by the Harry K Foundation at the Baywood Greens Clubhouse.

The program was opened by Cheryl Mitchell of Lunch With a Purpose. She announced financials and thanked the 220 guests for the successful 2023-24 efforts.

Mitchell introduced Harry Keswani, founder of the Harry K Foundation, who spoke about the work it has accomplished over the last 11 years to overcome childhood hunger in Delaware. Keswani noted that many Delaware families live above the poverty line but require assistance to meet family needs. The Harry K Foundation provides school backpack programs for 700 children with food for the weekends, holidays and summer. The backpacks contain nonperishable food for the youngster, at a cost to the foundation of $286 per child.

The foundation also supports the baby pantry at the Community Resource Center, which provides nutrition and baby-toddler supplies to families needing support. The center also started a mobile pantry program in partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware to reach children in need in more remote areas.

The luncheon raised $10,821 in cash and $8,500 in in-kind donations for a total of $19,321. Food donations totaled 1,500 pounds for the Community Resource Center. Keswani thanked volunteers and donors, and stopped by each lunch table to personally thank attendees for their continued support.

For more information, go to harrykfoundation.org and find Lunch With a Purpose/Coastal Delaware on Facebook.

The next gathering will be Friday, Sept. 6, at Baywood Greens, in support of First State Community Action Agency.