Local food bank Island Harvest is helping to alleviate the issue of hunger on Long Island and Park Avenue Elementary School students recently voiced their gratitude to the charitable group.
The Kids Weekend Backpack Program, started and run by Island Harvest, supports nearly 1,700 students across Long Island in 26 schools by giving them packets of food to bring home every weekend. According to Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest, last year they distributed about 60,000 packets of food to needy schoolchildren.
“Each week we have volunteers pick up the packets of food and deliver them to each of the schools that we work with,” she said. “Each packet contains four meals—two breakfasts, and two lunches or dinners—plus snacks, juices and milk. And on a fairly regular basis we include some educational information and puzzles and games as well.”
Dresner said that the Kids Weekend Backpack Program was started nine years ago when Island Harvest recognized the very real and growing problem of hunger on Long Island. This malady is becoming especially rampant amongst youth, she said.
“We recognize that there are about 90,000 children that are on the free and reduced school lunch program that the state provides on Long Island. When those kids go home on the weekend, many of them are struggling to make ends meet and have a good, healthy meal,” she said. “Every year, we have kids tell us that if we didn’t give them food that they’re not sure how their mom would feed them over the weekend. Last year a fourth-grader told me that the food helped them so their mom could pay rent. What nine-year-old should know that? It’s terrible that kids so young know hunger.”
At Park Avenue School, there about 175 students that participate in the Backpack Program. On June 19, several of those thankful students gathered in the school library to show their heartfelt appreciation to members of Island Harvest for making sure they have enough to eat each and every weekend.
“Island Harvest has been a great asset to our school,” said Park Avenue guidance counselor Kimberly Grinnard. “For five years they have been providing meals to children that are underprivileged within our school and may not have food over the weekend.”
First-grader Samaya, 7, was among the students who wrote notes and drew pictures of thanks for Dresner and the rest of Island Harvest members present that day.
“My favorite thing to eat in my Weekend Backpack meal is milk,” she said. “I like to have milk and cereal on Saturday mornings. Thank you Island Harvest.”
Seven-year-old Jamesly, a second grader, drew a picture of him and his family eating at a dinner table that ordinarily may have been empty if not for the charity of Island Harvest.
“I love receiving my Island Harvest Backpack meal because it’s my favorite thing,” he said. “I really like the food. It tastes good and I like to share my food with my family and my friends.”
Park Avenue principal Gloria Dingwall expressed her thanks to Island Harvest as well, noting that studies have proven that a proper, nourishing diet helps children to study hard and flourish; this foundation of nutrition and education gives them the abilities needed to rise above poverty and succeed in life, she said.
“Having food over the weekend enables kids to concentrate and get their homework done,” she said. “So thank you so much, Island Harvest, for helping our children and giving them a chance.”
