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Last Thursday, Aug. 8, Eagle Lake Noon Lions Club welcomed guest speaker David Burkhalter, owner of Moonside Macaron, a European bakery and coffee shop located at 102 W. Main St. in downtown Eagle Lake. Moonside Macaron is open six days a week, and has a delicious array of home-made Macarons, Tiramisu, Tres Leches, Madeleines and Muffins along with Lattes, Matcha smoothies, Gourmet coffees and juice drinks. David is also one of the Chamber of Commerce organizers of Market on Main, Eagle Lake’s first Friday of each month Community Market Day. Vendors, Crafters, Food Trucks and Non-Profit groups provide an awesome variety of products for sale.
During his four years of working and living in our small city, David has become increasingly aware of the limited activities available for young people during the After School hours. He has introduced programs to meet this need by opening the bakery for a one-day-a-week enrichment afternoon. Middle to High school kids gather to get homework help as well as play boardgames, engage in various art projects and try out immersive role-playing activities that encourage imagination, problem solving and interacting with others.
His vision for the near future includes leasing the First Methodist Church Fellowship Hall to provide more space for a broader program which is planned to include tutorial help, as well as a variety of opportunities to get involved. Experiences like creating a community garden, growing veggies, cooking lessons, and learning about various trades will be planned. As young people engage in these meaningful activities they make new friends, hone their academic skills, solve real-world problems, gain self-confidence and have great old-fashioned fun learning to do new things.
David has organized a Board of Directors, created a charitable non-profit organization that can accept donations and has recently received their 501c3 designation from the IRS. Funds are always welcomed to purchase all the enrichment materials needed. Adult volunteers are also welcomed as mentors for the students who participate.
