Dear West Genesee Families,
Many students enjoy breakfast and lunch at school on a regular basis. It is understandable when families find it challenging to provide those meals during school vacations. (Please note the following free lunch and food pantry information.)
Food pantries partner with the Food Bank of CNY to provide low cost, nutritious food to those in need. The following is a list of food pantries and services available in our community to assist families.
To find your appropriate food pantry location and to sign up, contact the Interreligious Food Consortium (IRC) weekdays at 315-474-8855 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Their website is: http://www.ifccny.org/
Power Packs:
The West Genesee Power Pack Program is planning to continue to provide Power Packs of food for students in need this summer. Students will not be in school, so we have decided to partner with the local libraries. Students can stop into the library and ask for a Power Pack. The library staff has been trained to discreetly hand a bag of food to the child. Students can also participate in free library programs and of course check out books to read over the summer months.
Local Food Pantries:
Holy Family Church, 130 Chapel Dr., Syracuse, NY, 315-488-3139
St. Joseph’s Church, 5600 West Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031, 315-488-8490
Free Brown Bag Lunch Program:
The Free Brown Bag Lunch Program sponsored by the Camillus First Methodist Church (located at 12 Genesee Street in the village of Camillus) will serve individual lunches and family boxes every Wednesday beginning July 1 through September 2 from 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Reservations are required for a family box, and please contact Jean, 315-802-7788 prior to June 29 to place an order. Individual lunches do not require advance notice. All are welcome.
Camillus First United Methodist Church, 12 Main St., Camillus, NY, 315-672-3051
Please contact your school nurse or school counselor if you need additional assistance with this or any hardship you may be facing. All inquiries are kept confidential.
Free Summer Meal site finder at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
and
Using the No Kid Hungry free texting service, families may text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 to receive a text back with information about Summer Meal sites in their neighborhood. The texting service also provides information about how to find other food resources in the area.