FAIRMONT — A group is being organized through Fairmont Community Education and Recreation, local churches and youth groups to set up a summer food program for those who need assistance.

The goal is to provide a sack lunch or take-away meal for children during summer months, as there is concern about how students receiving reduced and free lunches during the school year will fare during summer.

Several individuals met Thursday night to brainstorm ideas, as well as discuss established methods and programs.

Greta Lintelman, president of Heaven’s Table food shelf in Fairmont, spoke about the backpack program she organizes for children during the school year. Volunteers pack two breakfasts, two main courses, two juices and a few snacks in a bag for children to take home on weekends. The child’s teacher puts the bag into their backpack every Friday at the end of the school day. Volunteers at Heaven’s Table pack 313 of these take-away packs for children in the surrounding area, and 204 go to children on reduced or free lunch programs in Fairmont alone.

“It’s appreciated and we often have kids ask for it,” Lintelman said of the backpacks.

The backpack program is wonderful during the nine months that it operates, but with the school year coming to a close, the need of those students still needs to be met. Nearly 50 percent of students in Fairmont are on either reduced or free lunches, and statistics are similar throughout the area.

Kay Campe, who is on the mission board at First Congressional Church in Fairmont, asked why Fairmont can’t have a “sandwich guy.” She was referring to the man who makes sandwiches and distributes them to homeless people in Minneapolis. The biggest question that arises is where to distribute the food from.

Roni Dauer, director of CER, mentioned that the Fairmont summer park program could be a good place to distribute to those in need. There will be activities available at a different park several designated days per week throughout the summer. However, this only takes care of children in grades pre-K through 6.

As was pointed out at the meeting, if parents have enough resources to feed some children, it will be the youngest, which means high school kids are at risk.

Katy Gonzalez, who is involved with Fairmont Area Kinship, a mentoring program, is working with other youth groups to provide a safe space for kids grades 7-12 during the summer, specifically Saturday nights. She hopes the gatherings will provide an opportunity to feed everyone, especially those who need it most.

While there’s not yet a set plan, there’s definitely momentum.

“We’ve got to keep this fired up and moving,” said David Adams.

So far, the gathering of people who met Thursday has no name or title for their group, just an idea and a hope to help out kids in need.