Church offers breakfast to students following fire at Racine school



RACINE (WITI) -- Many students at both Mitchell Elementary and Middle School rely on the school’s free breakfast and lunch program. But with the school closed because of a fire, those programs were at a standstill- until a local church stepped up.

Lutheran Church of the Reformer is about block away from the school, and opened its doors Friday morning from 7:30-8:30 for breakfast, and again at 11 for lunch. They will continue to do this for as long as students are out of school.

“Many of these kids, these are their only meals for the day,” said Mike Anton, PTA Council President for Racine and Mitchell Elementary School PTA Treasurer.

The meals fill a practical need, but also an emotional one. “I think this is tremendous for our students, to be able to come out and interact with a lot of teachers who are here,” said Issac Kirkwood, the Elementary School Principal.

There are still a lot of questions, but now they know they will be answering them together.

“It’s just been wonderful, the outreach has been pouring in,” said Anton,” they see the devastation and they know what it does to these kids, so we are happy for that.”

Anton said the school was not surprised that the church stepped in to help. The church has been working closely with the school for more than 20 years.