Welcome back to our blog series, the No Kid Hungry New York Partner Spotlight. We’ll be speaking to our partners across the state, learning what’s new in their summer meals programs, and celebrating the tremendous work they do to ensure that more kids have access to the fuel they need to learn, grow and thrive. This week, we heard from Caitlin Lazarski, Director of School Nutrition at Pine Bush Central School District, a rural district spanning seven towns in the Hudson Valley.
Why are free summer meals programs important to families and communities?
In Pine Bush, the summer meal program not only provided immediate relief to families but also supported the overall well-being of the community. By offering a reliable source of nutrition, the program helped families focus on other priorities, such as work, childcare, and preparing for the upcoming school year. By offering non-congregate meal options [eg. grab-n-go meals], the program ensured that children in our rural area continued to receive the nutrition they need without the additional barriers that come with traditional congregate summer feeding.
What did Pine Bush’s summer meals program look like in 2024?
Our initial goal was to feed 20% more meals than we had in prior summers. We ended up increasing the number of meals served by 86%. This increase was due to our ability to serve [grab-n-go] meals in bulk in non-congregate settings. Our in-school summer program students received [congregate/dine-in] breakfast and lunch in school Monday through Thursday and were able to take home a backpack of shelf stable meal items for weekend consumption. Weekend backpacks accounted for 9,696 non-congregate meals provided in Pine Bush this summer.
In addition to the backpacks, we offered 5 day [grab-n-go] bulk meal pick ups for the last three weeks of August. We chose to only offer this service model late in August because many camps and in school programs where we were providing meals had concluded. There was a need to extend summer meals in the absence of these programs, and as operators we had less administrative work maintaining program integrity.
What was the most successful part of your 2024 summer meals program?
The 5 day meal box pick up was the most successful part of the summer. We were able to use menus and skills developed during the COVID curbside feeding days to feed over 10,000 meals each week in a 2.5 hour window. Our produce boxes were packed by our local produce distributor and included many local items including peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini. Families loved the opportunity to pick up whole fresh foods to prepare meals at home. We provided a suggested menu for the week which incorporated the items provided. Families were able to sign up in advance which gave us an idea of how much to order. We utilized our food service staff as well as student volunteers to expedite pickups. Our students assisted families to their cars and returned carts from the parking lot. Our staff was able to return to the frontlines and experience the gratitude and importance of their work for the community they serve all year long.
How have kids and families expressed gratitude for the grab-n-go meals?
The response from the community regarding the 5 day bulk meals was very positive. Parent groups on social media were posting about how thankful they were for the program provided by our school district. By providing these meals as bulk non-congregate [grab-n-go], we were able to reach an average of 1000 children each week for 3 weeks.
How has No Kid Hungry supported your work?
The grant from No Kid Hungry helped Pine Bush Central School District cover the costs of food, supplies, and logistical needs while we developed our non-congregate [grab-n-go] summer meal program. The district plans to continue, and hopefully expand, our non-congregate summer meal program next year by utilizing the lessons learned from summer 2024.
At No Kid Hungry New York, we thank Caitlin and the food service staff members at Pine Bush for their dedication and enthusiasm in feeding kids throughout the summer. We’re grateful to support their work and honored to shine a spotlight on their extraordinary program!