What’s for Lunch

What’s for lunch? Always a well-balanced, hot, nutritious meal.

In Guatemala, a meal often consists of beans, rice, tortillas, vegetables,chicken or beef, a vitamin-enriched drink called Incaparina and a piece of fruit. Normally, the children eat meat just once a week. These children consider Charlies Lunch a feast as they are accustomed to eating only a bowl of beans or a couple of tortillas or a small bowl of rice for an entire day. It's amazing to see the difference in these children after eating Charlies Lunch for a year!.

Regardless of the location,the children are always fed a balanced, nutritional meal. By working closely with nutritionists, each Charlie’s Lunch is able to serve meals targeted to the specific needs of the children. In virtually every case, the kids receiving meals through Charlie’s Lunch are malnourished. So meals are prepared to supplement meals received at home. Unfortunately, because of extreme poverty, meals from Charlie’s Lunch are often not just supplemental in nature. They are the primary source of nutrition – the only bridge from starvation .

Charlies Lunch has had the privilege of providing, not only a meal for the children who attend the program but also in some cases, formula for their infant brothers or sisters and food for the mothers of the Charlie's Lunch kids who are asked to take a turn in preparing and distributing a meal once a month.

Involving the mothers of these needy children has proven effective to help these women who often have no husband and 5-10 children that she is trying to care for. She is taught personal hygiene, parenting skilss, proper cooking, nutrition and of course, the Word of God. She is always prayed for by the pastor and/or his wife and taught how important she is. She begins to feel dignity and worth for the first time in her life.

What is also served at Charlie's Lunch are Bible stories, songs, personal cleanliness, respect and lots and lots of love. These children are given lots of hugs and smiles with every meal.But they also have the chance to just be kids, surrounded by love and compassion in a positive setting. And most importantly, they are given the opportunity to learn about Jesus and to develop a personal, lifelong relationship with Him. They are taught that, no matter what the circumstances, God loves you, and cares for you, and that yes, He really does know your name.