CAPTAIN CHS providing free, sociallydistanced, summer meals
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » When the official end to the school year arrived in late June, CAPTAIN Community Human Services once again began its free summer meals program for children in need throughout Saratoga County.
The summer meal program, which will have been in operation for 30 years as of next June, began by serving free lunches during the summer to children at the Outreach Center, Cheryl’s Lodge, in what was then the Turf Mobile Home Park in Halfmoon.
Since those early beginnings and with the assistance of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, the Free Summer Meal Program has expanded across Saratoga County. This year’s program went operational June 24. However, due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic the traditional youthful outdoor celebration held each year as a kickoff in Mechanicville’s Park Avenue Playground was canceled.
“This year many of our sites, including the CAPTAIN CHS Outreach Center, Cheryl’s Lodge, have already been delivering school lunches to youth,” said Associate Executive Director Andy Gilpin in a statement. “The current crisis has hit families hard and our kids even harder, so we’re excited to continue offering food and support throughout the summer.”
While free and reduced breakfasts and lunches are provided at schools during the academic year, lowincome youth have faced unique challenges during the pandemic. To help offset the absence of the school meals the Food Services Department of the Shenendehowa School District made and delivered many meals for students once the schools were ordered to close. The district’s Bountiful Backpack Program increased its support for students during that time also.
Now, CAPTAIN’s Free Summer Meal Program has stepped in as it has for the past 29 years.
“When the crisis started one of our first and foremost goals at CAPTAIN CHS was to figure out how we ensure every local family in need has daily access to nutritious food,” Gilpin said in his statement. “We kept our food pantry operating, expanded our capacity, and began distribution at Cheryl’s Lodge in Halfmoon Heights. There, we’ve been delivering over 800 school meals each week, and providing opportunities for pick-up and dropoff for the families.”
In 2019, the organization served over 11,000 free summer meals throughout Saratoga County.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic CAPTAIN CHS has modified its delivery by offering safe, grab-andgo meals rather than providing the familiar communal meal experience.
“And, to better serve our community, we’re making sure that our volunteers and staff are aware of the programs and services we offer for those who may
need a little help during these trying times,” Gilpin added.
Managed by the NYS Department of Education under the direction of, and through funding from, the USDA, this year Free Summer Meals will be provided to youth 18 and under at 19 different locations throughout Saratoga County from June 29 to Sept. 4.
Some of the Open Site locations for the meal program include Corinth Elementary School, the Greenfield Community Center, John S. Moore Homes, the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Saratoga Village, North Pointe Apartments, and the Schuylerville Public Library.
Additional sites include Cheryl’s Lodge, Pyramid Pines, Kayadeross Acres, Louden Oaks, and Malta Gardens.
Though the Free Summer Meal Program has been a staple in the county for a number of years, there are still obstacles to access for many children and families. One of those challenges is how to connect with the kids to let them know the meals program is available.
In normal years CAPTAIN is given the opportunity to send home flyers in each child’s backpack at the end of the school year but without school in session, that wasn’t possible this year. Gilpin and others at CAPTAIN are hoping through its partnerships, local school districts, social media, and the media at large that connections can be made to those who may be unaware of this program or the other services available through CAPTAIN CHS.
All the open site locations and lunch delivery times are listed on the CAPTAIN CHS website at: https://captaincares.org/what-we-do/ summer-meals.html.
Families can also call the CAPTAIN CHS office at 518371-1185 for more information.