LI Cares Launches Annual Summer Food Service Program To Feed Hungry Children

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island Cares is preparing to feed hungry children throughout the island as part of its annual Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the food bank announced.

The program will run for children ages 18 and under. Long Island Cares operates the program in partnership with the New York State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The program is set to launch June 30 at some locations and July 7 at others.

Most of the SFSP programs are summer camps, said Kerry Tooker, manager of child nutrition programs at Long Island Cares. All children registered at these camps will receive free nutritious meals at their site.

The lunch sessions at the Huntington Public Library/Station Branch and Middle Country Public Library in Centereach are the only two of 30 sites open to children in the community without prior enrollment. The other 28 sites will offer free breakfasts and/or lunches to registered guests only.

Parents can contact the sites and enroll their children for camp, Tooker said. While many camps have reached full capacity, most have indicated that they are still accepting enrollment, she added.

"These programs exist primarily in low-income areas where children statistically are from underserved families," Tooker told Patch.

Any child can enroll, Tooker said. The few programs that are located in higher income areas must provide a higher than 50 percent free/reduced income qualification showing eligibility for the students enrolled at their site, thereby still reaching children in need, Tooker explained. All children enrolled at a site eat free.

Launching June 30:

• Angelic Arts at Bethesda SDa School in Amityville
• Brentwood Recreation Center in Brentwood
• Middle Country Public Library in Centereach
• Holy Church of Christ in Central Islip
• Salem Baptist Church in Glen Cove
• Greenbelt Recreation Center in Holtsville
• Huntington Public Library/Station Branch in Huntington
• Circulo de la Hispanidad in Long Beach
• The Cloud Center in Roosevelt
• Roosevelt EOC in Roosevelt
• Rozzi's Summer Camp in Roosevelt
• Youth Enrichment Services in West Islip

Launching July 2:

• Family Service League in Riverhead

Launching July 7:

• Pronto of Long Island, Inc., in Bay Shore
• Boys and Girls Club of Bellport in Bellport
• Riverhead Charter School in Calverton
• David W. Crohan Community Center in Flanders
• Boss Babies, Inc. in Freeport
• Ready Set Grow Learning Academy in Freeport
• Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club / EOC in Glen Cove
• Landing Elementary School in Glen Cove
  • Glen Cove Youth Bureau’s After 3 program is at Landing Monday through Friday from July 7-Aug. 8.
  • La Fuerza Unida is also at Landing Monday through Friday from July 7 through Aug. 8.
• Barack Obama Elementary in Hempstead
• David Paterson School in Hempstead
• Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association in Hempstead
• Hispanic Counseling Center in Hempstead
• South Hempstead Baptist Church in Hempstead
• Espoir Youth Program, Inc. in Westbury
• Macedonia 7th Day Adventist Church in Wyandanch

Launching July 14:

• Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport

"This incredible program meets a need for so many Long Islanders that struggle to make ends meet when food prices are high and school meals are not available," Tooker said. "Long Island Cares is working across the island to reach as many children as possible with nutritious meals."

The official launch of the program is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. June 30 at the Huntington Public Library/Station Branch in Huntington. On hand will be members of the dance team of the Long Island Nets, who will perform and teach children dance moves. The team’s mascot will also be there.

With more than 71K Long Island children suffering from food insecurity, "this is a crucial program for kids of families struggling to provide three nutritious meals a day," Long Island Cares stated.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.