We are getting SNOW READY!
This winter The Queens Galley is again teaming up with the Kingston YMCA and Boys and Girls Club for snow day lunch!
Most kids can't wait for snow days. Storms roll in and the school bell takes a day off. For families struggling to make ends meet, snow days bring more concern than who gets to shovel out of the driveway. Sometimes when it snows a child won't eat. No school means no school lunch. In some of our schools more than 70% of students will recieve free or reduced price lunches. Parents, struggling to make food stamps stretch, count on that lunch to be there. For some kids it is the only meal they will eat, especially at the end of the month when benefits are exhausted.
A snow day after a long weekend or at the end of the month can mean a food insecure household now faces pure hunger. The faces of child hunger are what we see at The Queens Galley on snow days.
For the past two years we have partnered with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls club to make snow days more about snowballs and snowmen and less about child hunger. Both programs offer lunch provided free of charge by The Queens Galley to every child. Why free for everyone? So no one child is singled out for being poor. The Queens Galley, The YMCA and the Boys and Girls club think all kids should have access to wholesome food every day.
Last summer during the Christmas in July fundraiser and food drive we collected MORE than we needed for our summer program and got off to a great start to the snow day supplies. Unfortunately during the flooding in the aftermath of Irene our stored foods were destroyed.
So much for being ahead!
We are getting back on track, gathering and collecting supplies we need (like 100% juice, whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, kid friendly nut free wholesome snacks, fresh fruit, cheese and fresh milk). This year our collaboration with the YMCA will mean that we'll also try serving hot foods like a vegetarian farmers' chili, mac and cheese and turkey sliders.
As you shop for your holiday dinner the next two weeks, consider picking up an item or two for the snow day program, or make a donation online to help cover the cost of making sure no kid goes hungry when the snow falls.
We have 6 scheduled snow days. 100 kids each day it snows. 600 total lunches until the threat of a snow day is over.
We'll need a few snow worthy friends to help assemble and deliver on snow days too! Think about volunteering!
