SiCM to launch summer meals program

Jun. 26—SCHENECTADY — Schenectady Community Ministries on Tuesday will launch its annual summer meals program, which provides thousands of free meals to Schenectady County youth, with a kickoff event at Vale Farm.

SiCM has been operating the summer meal program for the past 28 years, providing thousands of youth 18 and under with free meals. Last year alone, the program served 57,632 meals, including breakfast and lunch.

The program is scheduled to run this year from June 29 to Sept. 1 at more than 20 pickup locations.

Tuesday's kickoff event, which is open to all community residents, will include a barbecue meal for all attendees as well as a number of activities, including ice cream sundaes provided by Stewart's. Cycle Schenectady will be hosting a bike rodeo and teaching children about bike safety during the event.

The event will take place at Vale Farm, located inside Vale Cemetery at 219 Brandywine Ave. from 3 — 6 p.m.

Food insecurity is a growing problem throughout Schenectady County, and is particularly acute in the city, where 80% of school children qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year. Those same students are left without lunch during the summer months.

SiCM currently partners with the Schenectady City School District to operate a food pantry at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The district recently received a grant to expand food pantry operations to four of its schools, which it is seeking to operate similar to the existing pantry.

For information on the summer meals program, including how to volunteer, visit: sicm.us.

Meals will be distributed at the following locations, though pickup sites are subject to change. Masks and social distancing are encouraged. All locations are in Schenectady unless otherwise indicated.

BREAKFAST SITES

— MacGathans Townhouses, 195 Jerry St. from 9:15-9:45 a.m.

— Graceand Mercy/Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1401 State St., from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

— SiCM Campus, 839 Albany St., from 8:30-9 a.m.

— Jerry Burrell Park, 753 Hamilton Street, from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

— Steinmetz Park, 2151 Lenox Road, from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

LUNCH SITES

— Collins Park, Schonowee Avenue, Scotia, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

— Faith Deliverance Tabernacle Church, 1028 Ostrander Place, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— Mont Pleasant Library, 1036 Crane St., from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

— Orchard Street Park, 720 Crane St., from 12 to 1:15 p.m.

— Quackenbush Park, 1121 Forest Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

— Wallingford Park, 1000 Congress St., from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

— Lincoln School, 2 S. Robinson St., from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

— MacGathans Townhouses, 195 Jerry St., from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

— Southgate Apartments, 105 Frank St., 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— St. Luke's Catholic Church, 1241 State St., 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

— Steinmetz Homes, 118 Henry St., 12 to 1:15 p.m.

— Woodlawn Park, 207 Kings Road, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

— Fehr Avenue Farm, 49 Fehr Ave., 12:45 to 2 p.m.

— Grace and Mercy/Tabernacle Baptist, 1401 State St., 12:15 to 1:30 p.m

— Schenectady Public Library, 99 Clinton St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

— South Avenue Park, 669 South Ave., 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— Hillhurst Park, 2301 Campbell Ave.,12:45 to 2 p.m.

— COCOA House, 869 Stanley St., 12 to 1:15 p.m.

— Jerry Burrell Park, 753 Hamilton St., 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— Vale Farm, 219 Brandywine Ave., 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

— SiCM Campus, 839 Albany St., 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

— Jaylen Park, 700 Windsor Terrace, 12 to 1:15 p.m.

— Steinmetz Park, 2151 Lenox Road, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

— Tribute Park, 868 Eastern Ave., 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

— Yates Village, 8 Yates Village, 12:45 to 2 p.m.

— Central Park Pavilion, 500 Iroquois Path, 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: 518-410-5117 or carnold@dailygazette.net. Follow him on Twitter: @ChadGArnold.