The Lunch Club began in 2009, at Sugar Creek Elementary School in Bentonville uniting Sheriff’s Deputies with students from the school. The aim of the Lunch Program was to build positive relationships between the youth and law enforcement officers in an attempt to provide these adolescents with support and guidance. The positive influences of forming a mentoring relationship with a law enforcement officer was intended to help these kids at a younger age consider the consequences of their actions and to encourage them to make positive decisions.

The program incorporates bi-weekly lunch meetings within the school where the relationship between the students and deputies could further develop. After lunch, deputies and other volunteers play outside and interact with the elementary kids on the playground to help promote this positive influence.

Throughout the year, it will be planned to have lunches at the Sheriff’s Office or in a different setting to allow the kids to interact with one another outside the typical lunch hour.