‘I’m proud of Galesville’

Every Tuesday and Friday throughout the summer months, Cance Park in Galesville transforms into a gathering grounds for residents offering lunch and community bonding.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free lunch is served at the park. The program was started eight years ago and is funded by volunteers and donations.

Barb Longwell heads the lunch program. Longwell, who worked for 34 years as a special education teacher at Galesville Elementary School, said 2024 turnout has been the highest yet. 

Tuesdays see around 100 meals claimed, while at least 55 meals are eaten each Friday.

“I know that 40 percent of the kids (in Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau schools) are on free and reduced lunch. I think we are helping some,” Longwell said. “I think it’s more of a social help than it is an economic help at this point but then we do get some elderly people that come, and they’re happy someone’s cooked a meal and really happy that they don’t have to go home and cook.”

Multiple area organizations donate to the program, including the City of Galesville, its Chamber of Commerce, area businesses and nonprofits.

“I have not heard anything negative,” Longwell said. “People are grateful and they’re happy we do it.”

The menu is diverse, featuring everything from burgers and hot dogs to sandwiches, chili, pizza, and tacos.

Some residents also attend free lunches in Trempealeau and Ettrick. The three communities coordinate plans at the beginning of the year, with Trempealeau offering free lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays. Ettrick handles Thursdays.

“Initially we started it just for children, but now it’s anybody that comes,” Galesville resident Jean Wallner said. “There’s some people that really do need the lunch, and others come more for the social aspect of meeting with other moms and kids and playing at the park.”

One of those moms, Marie Sonsalla of Trempealeau, attended last Friday’s lunch to get her kids out of the house while also providing a healthy meal. Friday’s menu featured barbecue sandwiches, baked beans, milk and fresh produce.

“I think it offers a chance for my kids to see other people in the community, get out and go to the playgrounds nearby. It offers different variety in the meals that they have, and that’s a big thing when we’re home all summer long making multiple meals. It’s a little less stressful and brings a little variety for my kids. It makes it convenient for us,” Sonsalla said, adding walking tacos are her kids’ favorite community meal.

Prep sports teams and students have become more involved as volunteers this summer, joining local churches and other volunteer groups as a steady presence.

“I’m proud of Galesville. I didn’t grow up in Galesville, but I love Galesville and I’m proud of what it will support and what it can help people do,” Longwell said. “To me, it’s not a super cliquey community. It’s a very welcoming community, and I think this shows it.”

Community garden plays role in lunch program

The lunches also offer a wagon full of fresh produce from the community garden. Volunteers spend Tuesday and Friday mornings tending to the garden at Galesville Elementary School, preparing produce for pickup at lunch.

The garden began in 2009 through the G-E-T School District when Wallner was a lunch lady in the district, but it has since grown into a community project.

The garden showcases more than 30 types of crops and plants and is located on the old asphalt tennis court at the school. Wood chips and soil piles rest atop the pavement, which creates a hybrid heating pad that offers a season extension for growing.

Varieties of tomatoes, berries, peppers, beans, flowers, squash and other produce grow in the garden, which also offers programs educating G-E-T students.

“I think it’s keeping it going as a resource for learning about gardening and how things work, and providing food is a good side benefit. We’ve evolved to a community garden, and even after the summer is over we keep in touch with families who use the vegetables,” Wallner said.

Multiple kids tumbled around the Cance Park playground on Friday as others gobbled up their lunches. One girl plucked a bundle of sunflowers to bring home from the day’s garden haul.

“I just appreciate how much the community supports this, that they’re willing to come out, that they’re willing to come do this (lunch) and be grateful,” Longwell said. “And then they look and see what’s in the wagon from the gardens. … and they’re excited.”

For people like Sonsalla, summer lunch is a welcomed benefit in Trempealeau County. She recommended the lunches to others, regardless of their financial situation.

“They’re really about making sure they’re offering something fun for the community, a chance for the community to gather, get together, build relationships, stay active and spend time with friends. It really isn’t a socioeconomic difference where you have to be of this status in order to get it. There’s no judgement and there’s lots of families from all different walks of life that come and get the free lunch every day.”