15 Jun 2026 Methodist Foundation grant enhances nutrition at Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center
LITTLE ROCK — The Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center (CDC) has received a $10,000 grant from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas to support its 2026 Vacation Sensation summer program, expanding access to nutritious meals and empowering students to help shape the program’s menu.
Historically, children participating in CDC’s summer school-age program brought lunches from home. Recently, the center learned it would be required to provide meals for all children enrolled in the program, regardless of income or eligibility for free and reduced-price lunches.
Rather than viewing the change as a challenge, CDC leaders saw an opportunity to better support families, introduce healthy food choices and engage students in hands-on learning about nutrition.
Funding from the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas enabled the center to provide daily lunches featuring fresh fruits, vegetables and student-selected menu items. The grant also helped purchase additional food storage equipment, including a new refrigerator for the program space.
“At CDC, we consider food medicine for brain growth and lifelong healthy habits,” said Rebecca Dwyer-Coop, executive director of CDC. “The grant from MFA allowed us to expand beyond providing just enough food to incorporating an entire student-led menu into our lesson planning and summer programming.”
Dwyer-Coop said students played a significant role in planning meals and selecting foods they wanted to try.
“The kids are really excited about what they will eat and had a big voice when it came to planning and programming,” she said. “We now offer local and fresh foods, and spinach salad is now a favorite. We were also able to expand our limited storage to include a refrigerator upstairs.”
The enhanced menu has included healthy favorites as well as fun themed offerings such as “Wing Wednesday,” creating excitement around mealtime while encouraging children to explore new foods.
CDC leaders expressed gratitude for the partnership with the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and its investment in the well-being of local children and families.
The mission of the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas is to establish and manage charitable funds that strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas. Through financial resources and stewardship, the foundation empowers Arkansas Methodist churches, individuals and organizations to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
About Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center
The Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center provides high-quality early childhood education and care while fostering the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of children in a nurturing environment.
About the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas
Founded in 1963, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas works to strengthen Methodist ministries throughout the state by managing charitable funds and supporting churches, organizations and individuals committed to serving others.
