Children’s Hunger Alliance Hosts 150 Children for a Lights On Afterschool Bowling Party Sponsored by Discover
National day of celebration raises awareness of need for more afterschool programming to keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families
COLUMBUS – October 26, 2017 – More than 150 Columbus school children hit the bowling lanes at Star Lanes Polaris for the Lights On Afterschool Bowling Party hosted by Children’s Hunger Alliance and sponsored by Discover. Children attending Columbus State Community College’s ESL Afterschool Communities (ESLAsC) had the opportunity to bowl (many for the first time), play games and enjoy a healthy meal during this fun afterschool event. Employees from Discover, Gordon Food Service and Molina volunteered at the event, serving food and helping new bowlers aim for the pins, while kid-friendly bumpers along the lanes eliminated the possibility of gutter balls. The kids were delighted by the neon balls, upbeat music and a chance to enjoy a new experience with friends. View event photos on Flickr.
Lights On Afterschool in a nationwide event created by the Afterschool Alliance to celebrate afterschool programs and their role in keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn and helping working families. Federal funding for afterschool programs for underserved students is at risk of being cut, which could eliminate programs that directly influence the success of at-risk children in our communities.
Children’s Hunger Alliance and its partners advocate on behalf of afterschool programs that provide an opportunity for children to enjoy enrichment programming and receive nutritious meals to fuel their minds and bodies. For Franklin County’s 58,000 children who live in food-insecure households, afterschool programs offer academic assistance, unique learning and recreation opportunities, physical fitness and a healthy meal that may be the last meal a child receives that day.
Columbus State Community College’s ESLAsC provide opportunities to help refugee and immigrant children overcome language, cultural and financial barriers to learning, so that they may better develop academic, social and personal skills to prepare children for a lifetime of success as new Americans.
Children’s Hunger Alliance provides healthy meals and snacks to 275 afterschool programs throughout the state – approximately 100 of these programs are in Franklin County, including four ESLAsC that receive a hot nutritious meal each day afterschool.
