Heyburn, Idaho (KMVT-TV) Every week, thousands of kids in Southern Idaho turn out for the free lunch program.

Along with lunch, the DeMary Memorial Library in Rupert sent some designated readers to the Rupert Square, the Paul Park by the water tower, and Ga Lawn Park in Heyburn.

Kids gathered around the storytellers, who read books out loud to the children eating lunch. So how did today's first time attempt go?


Storyteller Vivienne Dayley says, "Not as well as I'd hoped! It's noisier than I thought it would be, and kids are more interested in their food and in playing afterwards. But that's all right, it's their time, isn't it?"

This "Storytime in the Park" program will continue at 11:30 a.m. every Friday for the rest of June and July.

The ladies coordinating the free lunches in Heyburn say about 100 children show up at this park every day. But the lunch program in the Rupert Square feeds about 300 kids a day.

June 15, 2012.