UUS Free Lunch Team Receives Generous Donation in Honor of Gay Mikelson
Post Author
Vicki Siefers
The UUS Free Lunch Program (FLP) Team received a generous $1,000.00 donation in July from Dana Mikelson, Gay Mikelson’s eldest, in honor of Gay for her birthday. This donation to the FLP account will provide meals for several months. Thank you, Dana, for your generous donation!
Gay Mikelson is the original UUS member who heard about the plan to create a free lunch program in Iowa City in the 1980’s. She knew that UUS needed to be a part of the program, and UUS started providing lunches on the second Friday of the month. For over 30 years, UUS has provided lunch to an average of 100 diners every month. On a typical Free Lunch Friday, you’ll find Gay wrapping silverware and chatting with diners – some of whom she’s known for many years!
The Free Lunch Program isn’t the only organization Gay has played a major role. Gay served on the Shelter House board for ten years, including when Shelter House was planning their new facility. She has helped with Backpacks for Kids every fall – sewing backpacks and filling them with school supplies for local students who may not have been able to afford new school supplies. While Gay was raising her family, she would organize play groups for other young parents and their children so that they could connect and have a place to meet up and let their children play with each other.
Gay Mikelson has been an advocate for social justice in Iowa for her entire life. Thank you, Gay, for your steadfast work. We are proud to receive Dana’s generous gift to the Free Lunch Program.
