VANDALIA — For local nonprofit Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries, the summer has been a busy season.

Earlier this month, the group participated in Vandalia’s annual Underground Railroad Days by sponsoring children’s activities, providing food and drinks and distributing free books to children and adults. Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries also assisted with planning the event by recruiting volunteers and encouraging vendor participation.

“As a community organization, we believe that it’s important to be involved in our area’s events and activities whenever possible,” said Bianca May, co-founder and executive director of OFFKM.

To that end, the nonprofit is currently serving as a site coordinator for Vandalia’s Summer Food Service Program which provides healthy, free food four days a week to children in lower-income areas. Better known as Meet Up and Eat Up, the program is operated at the local level by program sponsors and is administered in Michigan by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Health and Nutrition Services.

In Vandalia’s case, Cassopolis Public Schools is the local program sponsor. CPS provides the food, and OFFKM provides the volunteer manpower and site organization. Additionally, OFFKM advocated for the inclusion of a location in Vandalia, which was inadvertently left off the initial sites.

“Programs like this are so vital to the wellness of our community,” May said. “The Meet Up and Eat Up program allows children to continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations when they do not have access to the national school lunch or breakfast programs.”

OFFKM also provides short-term transportation assistance to those in need, such as from a shelter residence to and from a medical appointment. In addition to helping the local homeless population, the nonprofit places an emphasis on assisting single mothers with their transportation needs as well.

The group is also getting ready for their second biannual free children’s clothing exchange. The Free Fall-Winter Children’s Clothing Exchange will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Vandalia Youth Center, located at 18035 State St., Vandalia. Families are invited to attend the event, which will offer free gently-used children’s clothes, shoes and gear, donated by community members.

Due to this busy season, OFFKM is looking for volunteers to help with their current initiatives and upcoming events. May said that donations are always appreciated as well.

“If anyone is interested in helping us further our mission of ‘being the village’ and creating a community centered on helping one another, we’d be thrilled to have you. Please contact me at (269) 476-1257 to learn how you can help,” May said.

To learn more about OFFKM, visit the website at ourfathersfamilykeeper.org.