Peanut butter and jelly, not quite the sandwich mom would make. This one is being made by a local group who are fighting hunger one sandwich at a time. Operation Sandwich provides kids and families in the Brainerd Lakes Area a free bagged lunch.
Operation Sandwich coordinator, Jen Lindholm, says, “There are too many kids in our community that can’t go to their own refrigerator and get food. And that’s just unacceptable really. So it’s important that for at least one meal a few times a week we can give them a little bit of something.”
Each bagged lunch consists of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, granola bar, fruit snack and piece of fruit. And Operation Sandwich uses an assembly line to make the lunches in the morning before delivering them to the kids in the local parks.
Brainerd volunteer, Brecken Mills, says, “Well they were making the sandwiches and then they handed them to me and I put them in a bag and then zip.”
Anna Just, another volunteer from Nisswa, says, “It was really fun because I was with my friend and there were a lot of people and it was funny and fun and we get to help kids.”
Operation Sandwich delivered its 1,000th bagged lunch today. And the volunteers say the kids’ reaction is what makes them want to continue to help the program.
Alexia Patel, Miss Teen USA Brainerd, says, “They get really excited and that makes me feel warm and bubbly inside to be able to see what this really does for kids and families.”
Lindholm, “They are there waiting for you and they will come to your car. And they will start helping you bring everything out and setting everything up so you can handout the lunches.”
They say it’s a reminder that hunger isn’t just a problem in the developing world, but also exists in our community. But isn’t just about hunger.
Lindholm says, “Its not just about hunger. If you think about what that second grade girl said, she’s bored and she’s lonely. And you may be the only person that she see for most of her day today.”
Operation Sandwich hopes to expand next summer their current three days a week program to five.

Operation Sandwich delivers Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from now until August 28th.

The Brainerd Operation Sandwich schedule:
Lowell Elementary 11:45-12:10
Lum Park 12:15-12:40
Harrison Elementary 12:45-1:15
Oscar Kristofferson Park 12:00-12:30
Kiwanis Park 12:40-1:10

Pequot Lakes schedule:
Sibley Lake Park 12:00-12:30
City Park, Breezy Point 12:00-12:30

Donations can be made at:
First Lutheran Church, 424 S 8th St, Brainerd
Dollar General, 4225 W Grove St, Pequot Lakes.

Or by mailed at:
Operation Sandwich c/o United Way, PO Box 381, Brainerd, MN 56401

By — Lakeland PBS

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