The Golden Backpack Program’s mobile summer food program, dubbed the Snack-n-Wagon, is officially rolling, providing lunch every weekday for 100 Golden children who might not otherwise get to eat.

The Snack-n-Wagon began serving food to the community on July 1. After a brief pause on July 4 and 5, the service will run every weekday until Aug. 9.

The bus makes two stops to serve food: Fox Hill Apartments, 17611 West 16th Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and Mountainside Estates, 17190 Mount Vernon Road, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

To gear up for the first week of service, two dozen Snack-n-Wagon volunteers held a training session last week. Among the volunteers was first-timer Joanne Aldridge, of Golden.

“It sounded like something quick and easy that fit into my schedule,” she said.

Aldridge had been looking for a volunteer opportunity in Golden for a long time, she said.

“There’s a lot of positive feeling here about it, and I think it will be a great success,” she said.

It was a family affair for Golden mother Suzie Veldman and her two sons, Brett, 16, and Jackson, 14.

“My husband’s in Rotary, so we thought it was a good way to help out and get hungry kids some food,” she said, noting hat it helped that the required volunteer time would not take up the boys’ whole summer.

Brett Veldman said he was looking forward to doing community volunteer work.

“I’m excited about it. Getting to help other people is a plus,” he said.

More volunteers are needed to run the Snack-n-Wagon this summer. For information or to volunteer, contact volunteer staff coordinator Judy Maxwell by email at judy.maxwell23@gmail.com.