OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center will be providing a summer food program for eligible households again this summer.

The center acknowledges the financial strain that can occur during the summer months while children are on summer vacation. They would like to encourage families to use the food distribution every month. Using the food pantry monthly before grocery shopping can help lessen the burden at the register.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) eligibilities require families to be at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Guidelines. These guidelines allow a family size of 1 to be eligible at or below $22,311 annually, and that number increases with the number of household members in the home.

The center has requested grants from Stewart’s Shops Corporation and Food Bank of Central NY to aid in the funding of the program. These grants have allowed the Center to purchase nutritional kid-friendly foods, along with fresh fruits and vegetables from the local Bittersweet Farm.

The summer food program offers school aged children their own food package aside from their family’s initial monthly food package. The packages will be distributed using the same point system as their monthly food packages. Snack items will be available depending on donations.

The deadline for signing up for the summer food program is June 15. Applications are available at the Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center on the lower level of City Hall. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed from 12-1 for lunch.