(Oneida, NY – Sept. 2015) The Summer Lunch Program sponsored by Community Action Partnership (CAP) was successfully operated at the American Legion in Oneida. Additionally, CAP provided bag lunches to a secondary site, the Tri- Valley YMCA of Oneida for their Summer Day Camp, from July 6 to Aug. 20
More than 1,725 lunches were served at the American Legion and YMCA. Daily 50 children (on average) were fed a “healthy” meal and were provided activities such as music and dancing, hands on art projects, literacy activities, nutrition information and other educational events.
CAP and Karing Kitchen’s Summer Lunch personnel and volunteers were accommodating (especially in terms of food allergies).
Primary supports of the program were the Gorman Foundation, Karing Kitchen, BRIDGES, the American Legion, Summer Youth Employment (provided the youth to make and serve lunches) and the Oneida YMCA. Dr. Ralph Stevens, who referred Karing Kitchen to the CNY Community Foundation who helped to support the parent lunches at the Summer Lunch Program and the Eat Well Play Hard event.
Program supporters providing activities and educational experiences were: Eat Smart NY (Nutrition, Education, activities & samples), Oneida Public Library (literacy activities), and the YMCA (physical activities).
Individual supported activities were: Cory Marsh (a mentor with CAP) and other dancers from her dance class, CAP’s EHS Team (Hands on Art project), Cindy Mannise (hands on art providing supplies and activities) and Buzzy Dale; “The Science Guy.”
Community Action Partnership organized the program and obtained funding through the NY State Department of Education and some other local entities. The program was coordinated by Jodee Osborne (CAP’s NOEP Outreach Coordinator) and Mellissa King (a mentor at CAP and representative of Karing Kitchen).
This event provided an employment opportunity for the Summer Youth Program and an experience for youth and their families in the community.