Photo: Three Hills School students arriving for the October edition of Mt. Olive Evangelical Free Church's monthly Taco Tuesday. The church has been sponsoring this monthly noon-hour treat for 12 years for junior and senior high students. DAVID NADEAU, Three Hills

It's a five-minute walk from the Three Hills School to Mt. Olive Evangelical Free Church on the south edge of town. And since Prairie Christian Academy is in the far north end of town, the church bus takes about five minutes to complete its run.

Students from both schools—bussed, walking, or in their own vehicles—descended on the church's main auditorium October 13 to enjoy a church-sponsored monthly free taco lunch. Just lunch. 

Started by now-lead Pastor Alvin Bueckert twelve years ago when he was youth pastor, today's effort is accomplished by a rotating pool of 14 volunteers who cook food, prepare iced tea, set up tables and chairs, and drive the big yellow pick-up-PTC-students bus.

Taco Tuesday point man, Youth Pastor Joshua Schweer, said, "Last year we averaged 200 grade seven to twelve students per month. Homeschoolers are welcome; we want to serve all youth students in Three Hills and Kneehill County. We've even seen a few from Carbon and Trochu and are pleased that 220 came for October's Taco Tuesday."

While we've heard that Moses and followers enjoyed no-cost manna, Taco Tuesday comes with a cost.

Depending on food prices, the church can spend as much as seven thousand dollars a year on the program. As Schweer, now in his fourth year as youth pastor, explained, many Mt. Olive church attendees donate specifically to the program. "Some community members believe in the program and donate too." Such generosity is necessary as the program's momentum grows year by year.

When asked about the activity's spinoffs, Schweer was quick to explain that in addition to food, the program provides a space for students to feel welcome and fed month to month in a way that shows a church is a safe and approachable place where they are always welcome, "that we care about our community."

And while a few tacos every 30 days or so does not seem like much, organizers are aware of food insecurity issues and are pleased to hear multiple students say it's their best meal of the month. "Families have approached many of our church staff members in the community to express appreciation that we care enough to feed their kids a full meal and let them save on that one lunch or maybe eat enough to cover the rest of the day. There is a massive need for this in our community, one that needs to be reached more and more."