Supper Clubs Set the Table for a Healthy Lifestyle

The opportunity to interact with kids in the comfortable setting of their school and make healthy food more accessible is both serious and fun for the Maryland Food Bank.

But what happens when the school bell rings, and kids don’t have access to nutrition workshops or school pantries?

Supper Clubs!

Designed to offer tasty, nutritious meals prepared by MFB’s FoodWorks Meals Program, Supper Clubs mean kids in after-school programs can practice making healthy choices that fuel activities such as tutoring, arts and crafts, and sports.

AJ (aka Apple Juice), who is a Summer Club member at the Boys & Girls Club, Severn Center in Anne Arundel County, described it as “a place to relax, calm down, and finish schoolwork.”

Nakayla, who attends the Club “because my mom works, and by the time she gets off, she can pick me up, and I don’t have to be home alone by myself,” also finds the location supports her academic efforts: “I prefer doing homework at the Club because Miss Naya and Miss Terice are helpful and patient with me!” she said.

Miss Terice also feels the sense of connection and community, and how it makes it more comfortable for everyone. “This area is pretty close knit. A lot of the families know each other, and are neighbors, so a lot of people come here through word of mouth.”

Eighth-grader Mo called the Club a “safe space,” where “they always have fruit cups for snack time, and I like eating fruits. Oh, they also have milk out, and they give us this sauce that’s yummy on our salad which is like lettuce and shredded carrots and other stuff in it!”

And it’s not just kids who are raving about the program at the Severn Center’s Supper Club.

“When my husband had to go back to in-office work, and we were having trouble finding aftercare, this place saved us,” said Katie C.

“This one day, she had a chicken curry salad, and it looked delicious—and I feel good knowing that the meals are nutritious,” shared Katie, as her daughter chimed in with her fondness for “green peppers and strawberries as big as my head!”

Tyrnita Moore, the director of operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, is proud of the work the Club has done to respond to the needs of the community.

“What’s changing is the community engagement—we have really focused on building strong partnerships with those in the community that serve youth in various areas,” she said. “It’s allowed us to form a partnership with the Maryland Food Bank, it’s allowed us to open our own food pantry, and it’s allowed us to connect in the community on a whole new level,” Tyrnita continued.

With Maryland ranking in the top 10 most expensive states for childcare, averaging nearly $1,500/mo. (according to the United Way of Central Maryland) programs like Supper Clubs at trusted community locations like the Boys & Girls Club, Severn Center in Anne Arundel County are just one of the many ways that local families are finding hope (and relief) at Maryland Food Bank community partners statewide.