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Advocacy group launches program to improve children's access to food in Canton, seeks volunteers

Posted 6/7/18

CANTON – Gardenshare, a local food advocacy group, is launching a program focused on increasing children’s access to food during the summer, and is looking for volunteers to help run it. The …

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Advocacy group launches program to improve children's access to food in Canton, seeks volunteers

Posted

CANTON – Gardenshare, a local food advocacy group, is launching a program focused on increasing children’s access to food during the summer, and is looking for volunteers to help run it.

The Summer Adventures Program, a pilot program that offers a free six-week summer recreation program for kids ages 6-12 starting in July, said a press release from the organization.

The program is a collaborative effort between GardenShare, Canton Village Recreation Department and volunteers.

It will offer participants a variety of activities centered on healthy food, minds, family, environment, river, and economy, as well as a free lunch daily. Unfortunately, all spots for this year’s pilot program have been filled, said the press release.)

Summer Adventures is looking for volunteers to prepare and serve summer lunches July 1-Aug. 10. Prep shifts are Sunday afternoons, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday mornings; service shifts Monday-Friday 11:30-1 are all open for volunteers.

To volunteer, contact maggie@gardenshare.org or call at (315) 261-8054.

According to the USDA, 44 percent of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients were under the age of 18 in 2016. In New York State, Hunger Solutions New York cites that more than 1.5 million public school students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches in the 2014-2015 school year.

KWIC (Kids’ Well-Being Indicators Clearinghouse) estimates that 13.9 percent of St. Lawrence County (SLC) children live in a household receiving SNAP benefits and that over 52 percent of students in St. Lawrence County receive free or reduced-price lunches in school.

That means over half of SLC students may not have access to lunch during the summer season. In Canton public schools specifically, about 42 percent of children are receiving free or reduced school meals and about 120 students go home with backpacks of food for the weekends through the Golden BearPack Program.