Lee raising funds to provide kids with hot lunches

Jeremy Lee, a Black Hills Energy employee, has started a non-profit to provide Cheyenne County children with funds to afford hot lunches and also to pay off outstanding lunch debt.

A fundraiser dinner is planned for Oct. 28 at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.

Lee was inspired to act by his wife, a food services staff member Leyton Public Schools.

“My wife came to me and asked if there’s anything I can do at work as far as raising money,” he said. “Not only am I a Black Hills Energy employee, I’m an ambassador. We do anything we can to give back to the community.”

Lee brought the proposal to the Black Hills Energy president of operations for Nebraska.

“They wanted to make sure we get this taken care of, so there’s no need for people to need us again or there’s a fund for families to have this,” Lee said.

Lee has also received support from the Dalton Community Shepherds, as well as Mrs. Cheyenne County Ylani Cole, via personal appearances and social network sites.

“Children, veterans and seniors are something that are very close to my heart,” Cole said. “A child should never go home or to bed or through the day without any food. That is something that can be controlled and that is something that is in our control to help. Nobody should go hungry. We live in America. Everybody can give $2 or $5 to make sure no child ever has to go hungry.”

The fund is a resource that needs to exist, Lee said.

“We just want to make sure, with the scare of what’s going on with Cabela’s, we have something there for families,” he said.

The fund also aims to eliminate the nearly $4,000 of unpaid debt preventing kids from receiving hot meals.

“Whatever the fault was, parents got behind on their bill and their debt is still there,” Lee said. “Before we can start them in the positive, we have to clear that debt.”

For some children, school lunch may be their only hot meal of the day, Lee said.

Not having access to hot meals creates other challenges, as well.

“There’s also the idea that the kid is embarrassed because he’s eating a cheese sandwich instead of a regular meal with the rest of his friends,” Lee said. “They’re not thinking throughout the day. Their mind isn’t in the right place if they haven’t eaten the right meal.”

A fundraiser dinner at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds 4-H building on Oct. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., asks for a free will donation.

Raffle tickets are being sold throughout Sidney for a fireplace donated by Black Hills Energy.

Other events are planned for the future.

“We figure there’s almost $20,000 to $25,000 a year we need to maintain this,” Lee said. “We’re going to need a large amount of funds. This is just a Band-Aid for right now.”

To purchase a ticket or to make a donation at any time, contact Jeremy Lee at (308) 249-4004.