Alumn, brothers serve 225+ meals daily for summer lunch program
When you’re planning for and serving lunch for 225 or more people, your day can go a lot of ways. When those meals are sack lunches from the side of a van, Brent Beard (’21) knows it’ll likely go one of two ways.
“Some days, it’s a walk in the park, and some days it’s a walk on Legos,” he quips.
Brent and his brother Brendan Beard (’16) serve more than 225 meals a day at three locations throughout Columbus. As of July 5th, the summer lunch program had served 18,242 meals from its serving sites and grab-and-go locations.
“You got to roll with the punches,” Brendan says. The grab-and-go meal service runs five days a week from May 28th through July 26th, excluding the Fourth of July holiday.
With the help of volunteers from Columbus Public Schools and United Way Pacesetter businesses, they manage to serve a variety of kid-favorite items like ham and cheese sandwiches, PBJs, and even warm dishes like chicken nuggets. Each meal includes fruits and vegetables, ensuring a balanced diet for the children.
The summer lunch program extends beyond the van with sit-down serving sites at Columbus High School, Columbus Middle School, and the Kramer Education Center, collectively serving over 1,900 meals a week. Brendan, who holds a degree in nutrition from UNL, is the kitchen manager at Columbus Middle School, which acts as the central kitchen for the district.
“It’s kind of up my alley and a great starting point if I want to expand my horizons,” he explains. “I can get my foot in the door and gain experience here.”
Meanwhile, Brent works in the food service area at Lost Creek alongside his mom, Brenda Ensiminger.
Reflecting on his unexpected career path, Brent says, “I would have never thought I’d come back and work with the school district, but now that I am, I really enjoy it.”
Brendan and Brent both tout CPS and its lunch program. They hope people can see what it takes to get community youth fed in the summer and students throughout the school year.
“Their job is so hard, but they make it look so easy because they do such a good job,” Brendan said of his staff.
The brothers take immense pride in serving the students and are active in the community beyond their jobs. They coached their youngest brother, a 7th-grader, in Anchor Hoops, and Brent coaches the Junior Blues baseball team during the summer.
For Brent and Brendan, whether their day feels like walking on Legos or strolling in the park, it’s all worth it.
“It’s a great program, and we get to connect with the community,” Brendan shares.
Brent adds, “At the end of the day, if kids are eating, then my job is complete. That’s a reward in itself.”
