Psy.D. students organize to help feed children over the summer

Students in the Radford University Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) program are committed to social justice, and their work doesn't stop in the summertime.

For the fifth year in a row, Psy.D. students will run School's Out Lunch Delivery (SOLD), a program that helps feed Radford children who would normally qualify for free or reduced lunch when school is in session.

The free or reduced lunch program is a key factor in the well-being of many students. In 2013, 42 percent of students in Radford City Schools benefitted from the program. During the summer, however, these meals are lost for months.

That's where the student volunteers of SOLD step in. The project, created and run entirely by Psy.D. students, provides real support for the community.

"We can provide a single meal to a child in Radford for as little as $2.50," said Emily Ludwig, a Psy.D. student and this year's program coordinator.

SOLD members pack and deliver the lunches using their own transportation. Because they are trying to replace every lunch a child would get during the school year, they must provide five lunches per week for participating children. That doesn't daunt the SOLD crew.

"We would like the Radford community to know that this program is here and is eager to grow," Ludwig said.

Apr 29, 2015