08/04/2026
Some nights dinner smells like summer, burgers on the grill and kids waiting their turn. Other nights it's walking tacos, spaghetti, or once, memorably, an ice cream truck pulling up for dessert. Whatever's on the menu, one thing is constant when dinner is served at PAL KCK: nobody leaves hungry.
On dinner nights, somewhere between 100 and 125 kids sit down to eat, plus the parents and siblings who come along to enjoy the evening. Seconds are always on offer, and when there's extra food, we save it to be incorporated into another community dinner, with PAL KCK staff and KCKPD officers contributing additional dishes to make it a complete meal.
None of this happens without the people who show up ready to serve. Week after week, our friends at NorthPoint Foundation, Basys, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, and the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department (among others, see the full list below) roll up their sleeves to help feed PAL KCK families. Their consistency, generosity, and willingness to serve make these dinners possible — and our kids notice.
Right now we consistently serve dinner two nights a week. Our goal: every day PAL KCK is open so that every child who comes through our doors can rely on consistent nourishment and care, physically and emotionally. Every plate shared reminds our youth that they belong, that the community believes in them, and that good truly does grow here.
Interested in providing a meal? Contact Lynn Melton at [email protected].
Thank you to all our regular dinner heroes: Basys, BPU, Chicken N Pickle, Daughters of the American Revolution, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, Kansas Speedway NASCAR, Kiwanis East, Local 64 Firefighters Community Service Foundation, Marvin Windows and Doors, NorthPoint Development, and PAL KCK Board of Directors.
