About two years ago, a group of four lake residents, including Russell Baskett, started meeting to discuss their concerns about the needs of children in the community. Each had a separate concern: summer lunches, reading skills, solving problems without violence and embracing global diversity.

"We started talking and brainstorming," said Russell. "We wanted to do something in the summer to meet those four needs."

Out of those discussions, SML Good Neighbors, Inc. was formed, with Russell and his wife, Sarah, serving on the board of directors.

High on the list of priorities last year was providing nutritious lunches to children attending summer school. Statistics from 2005 showed that 520 students from Moneta, Body Camp, Huddleston, Dudley and Burnt Chimney elementary schools were eligible for free or reduced lunches.

"We knew that the need was there, but we didn't realize the magnitude," said Russell.

During the summer, these children are home for lunch every day, meaning an extra mouth to feed every afternoon. Even those children who attend summer school are home by lunchtime.

"We knew that these children being home in the summer puts a burden on the families," said Sarah, adding that many of the families go to Lake Christian Ministries for food assistance.

To help take some of the burden off the families, Good Neighbors organized a lunch delivery three days per week to Moneta, Huddleston and Body Camp elementary schools with food provided by Second Harvest.

On Fridays, Good Neighbors delivered backpacks to those schools, as well as Dudley and Burnt Chimney. The backpacks were laden with nonperishable items such as powdered milk, dry cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables, spaghetti sauce and noodles and individual puddings from local grocers. At the end of the summer, the children were able to keep the backpacks.

"All five schools were given backpacks with enough food in them for six meals, and a new book," said Russell.

Because the names of children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches is confidential, Good Neighbors put together backpacks for every child enrolled in summer school. Sarah said a note was included in the pack, asking families who didn't need the food to pass it on to another family.

"Every backpack had a menu for how to use the food in there," said Sarah. "Some parents reported that their children insisted on following the menu exactly."

This summer, Good Neighbors will continue the summer lunch program, and will add a summer day camp to meet the other three concerns: reading skills, solving problems without violence and embracing global diversity.

Russell said they've partnered with the Bedford and Franklin county schools to provide a summer day camp for each county. Each will last four weeks and take 50 children.

"We've developed our own curriculum," said Sarah. "Each week, there will be a theme."

Week one, she said, will focus on the children's place in the world. Week two will branch out to the family circle, how to care for each other and how to solve conflicts. Week three will broaden the scope to include the neighborhood and community. The final week will encompass the world and focus on global diversity.

College interns will facilitate the camp. The interns will be the only paid workers. Area volunteers will work one-on-one helping students with reading skills, distributing lunches and assisting with arts and crafts, music and instruction.

"About 150 to 200 volunteers will be involved," said Sarah.

Good Neighbors is still looking for volunteers to assist with the summer day camp. All volunteers will be subject to a background check.

For more information about SML Good Neighbors, Inc. or to volunteer, call 721-2581, e-mail director@smlgoodneighbors.org or visit www.smlgoodneighbors.org.