Below is an excerpt from Parks & Recreation, NRPA's monthly magazine. Often time in our communities we experience things that we always remember. In June, Kellie traveled to one of our matched communities. Below is one of her experiences.

June 28: In Minnesota I met today with the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department and St. Paul Nutrition Services, which is part of the city’s school system. We toured several sites where they are serving daily meals to children. At one site, a young child was crying because he was hungry. I overheard his older brother, who was still very young himself, tell him that they did not have enough money to buy lunch today. Fortunately, the staff at the center was able to give them each a healthy snack to calm their grumbling stomachs. This touched my heart andreminded me of the critical role parks and recreation agencies have in providing nutritious meals to children whose parents can’t afford it.

                                                 —Kellie May, Program Manager, Health & Wellness