Thanks to a joint venture between Clinton Youth & Family Services and Families Helping Families (FHF), families that struggle with food needs can receive a free lunch every Friday this summer at the Henry Carter Hull Library located at 10 Killingworth Turnpike.

The program, called the Kids Café, starts on June 22 and runs on Fridays until to Aug. 24. The food will be served from noon to 1 p.m. and will be provided by Chow restaurant of Clinton. Lynn Hidek, one of the organizers of the series, noted that even though the event is called “Kids Café,” adults and teenagers are welcome at the event as well.

In addition to the meal, the program will also offer experiences for the kids. Hidek said that there will be library programs held before and after the meal, and that on several occasions through the summer there will be special guests during the café time. These guests include the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, a presentation on marine animals, a demonstration of an ambulance, a visit from Sonny the police dog, and an ice cream truck to celebrate the end of summer.

“Hopefully it will enrich their summer experience,” said FHF President Miner Vincent.

Hidek said part of the reason the Kids Café was started was to help kids who rely on the school to provide meals, but then face the summer months without that assistance.

“The main reason we decided to team up with the library and Clinton Youth Services is that there’s a void,” Vincent said.

The program will also have some snacks and food that families can take home.

Hidek said that 2018 is the second year the series will be held at the library. In the past, the series was held at the Town Hall Annex, and was associated with a federal program that Hidek said had “more stringent guidelines” about who could receive the food.

“We wanted a different model. We couldn’t feed someone over 18,” Hidek said, adding that the café is no longer associated with the federal program. “We know we are meeting the needs this way...Right now, we’re feeding everyone, it’s a great time,” Hidek said.

Hidek said she’s grateful for the chance to provide assistance to families that need it.

“It’s really fun to see people come back week after week,” Hidek said. “Just getting food into the houses and bellies that need it is very important.”