Every Thursday Jeremy VanHaitsma and some of the Young Life leaders on his team have lunch with about 150 kids — and sometimes as many as 200 kids. They aren't visiting the school's cafeteria; they're serving up grilled cheese for kids at VanHaitsma's house.
VanHaitsma, who is a direct ministry staffer in northern Colorado Springs and lives about one mile from the high school, started offering grilled cheese last September during the school's lunch hour, during which students are allowed to leave the campus. "We were looking for a way to bring in new kids," VanHaitsma said. "I also wanted to give our leaders another opportunity to do contact work."
"Grilled Cheese Thursday" was announced once at club, and that's all it took for kids to catch on. The first time, 50 kids showed up. The crowd doubled each time for a few weeks after that, with a majority of the crowd being kids who had never come to Young Life activities before. Still, each Thursday brings always brings a majority of kids who aren't regulars at Young Life.
"Young Life is never 'sold' there," VanHaitsma said. "It's a neutral ground for kids to be loved on and get a free meal. We're hoping it would draw more than typical Young Life kids. As a leadership team, we're praying they get excited about coming to club or camp."
After the first few weeks of hosting Grilled Cheese Thursday, VanHaitsma and the leaders needed some help. Some parents were invited to check out the lunchtime hot spot. One of the parents who stopped by to see what it was all about, jumped in behind a griddle right away. Each week some parent volunteers are there to help make sure no one goes back to school hungry.
"In that way we're doing adult work," VanHaitsma said. "Parents want to drop by to help out, drop off bread, cheese or a check." Even some neighbors, who were a little perturbed and perplexed by the noise at first, have stopped by to donate some ingredients.
Each week, the supplies for Grilled Cheese Thursday include 40 loaves of bread, more than 400 slices of cheese and four tubs of margarine. VanHaitsma estimated they serve about 400 to 500 sandwiches each Thursday.
As kids fill their stomachs, leaders get a good fill of interacting with kids. Whether they're standing behind a griddle and talking as they cook, or getting to move about and meet and greet new faces, leaders are getting to know more and more kids.
Not only is grilled cheese being served to kids from that high school, but sandwiches are also being served throughout Colorado Springs. Young Life leaders and staff like Carrie McKee have also been serving up grilled cheese to high school and middle school students on other days throughout the week.
The nearly universal appeal of grilled cheese to teenagers has added to the success of the weekly get together, but VanHaitsma said he thinks kids are getting more out of it than just a free lunch.
"I have this picture of kids in years to come making grilled cheese for their kids," he said. "They may not remember whose house they were at or that it was connected to Young Life, but they'll remember they were loved in that house."