Free breakfasts and lunches are distributed to children throughout the summer at New York City schools and housing projects as part of the federal Summer Food Assistance Program. Those interested in finding the meal distribution sites can just click a mouse.
The New York City Coalition Against Hunger has initiated interactive maps, the first of their kind, allowing low-income families to search by ZIP code or neighborhood to find accessible locations at its website www.nyccah.org/maps.
“Free summer meals are critical for the one in five children in our city facing hunger or inadequate access to food, but the program has not been adequately promoted to New Yorkers,” said J.C. Dwyer, director of programs for the Coalition Against Hunger.
With many people unaware of the program’s existence or site locations, participation rates have been low. However, with the help of the new maps, finding a location is simple.
For example, a parent or the hungry child living in Flushing would just need to enter in the word “Flushing” or the ZIP code, �” and instantly, red flags appear, marking the locations that are available in that area.
The marks not only provide the name of the location, but the address and telephone number as well. The map shows that eligible residents in Flushing would find meals served at the Flushing Jewish Community Council, located at 65-15 164th Street, Flushing, and could call 718-463-0434 for more information including the times of the breakfasts and lunches.
“By making better information available, we hope more of the parents of hungry children in Queens will be able to take advantage of this resource for their children,” says Dwyer.
With 1,200 emergency food programs available, the 1.2 million hungry New Yorkers should no longer have to suffer any more days without meals.
Summer meal sites now on-line
By Melissa Chan
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