To the Editor:

Starting in mid-June, The Community Lunch Program for Kids started to distribute large boxes of food to approximately 80 local families with children in the NNCS District. Seven different food distributions were held. (The amount of food given was based on the number of children in the family.) On Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 CLPK held its last food distribution of the summer. Over the course of the past two and a half months over 17,500 meals were given out!

In addition to providing food to families with children facing food insecurity, CLPK hosted a BACK2SCHOOL event on Wednesday, August 25th for our 168 school age children. The following items were given out: 1,202 pairs of underwear, 1,630 pairs of socks, 224 Sports Bras, 172 Backpacks, 213 pairs of sneakers, 825 Books (compliments of CLPK, The People Project, and Friends of Norwood Library, and Norfolk Library), 70 Hygiene kits, and 168 mini homework kits (containing age appropriate school supplies for students to use at home). All items that were left over after our event were donated to Norwood Norfolk Central School for other children who may need some additional support getting ready for the school year.

On Aug. 25, school supplies were provided by Norwood Norfolk Raymondville Outreach and The People Project for these 67 families. Massena McDonalds donated a Happy Meal gift card for each child. And Common Cents Thrift Shop in Norwood donated a $10.00 gift card for each school age child. Massena Walmart provided treats for all the children to enjoy the last few days of summer vacation.

Though, due to rising Covid numbers, we were not able to have the “celebration” that we had planned, we hopefully made strides toward our goal of “leveling the playing field” for local children living in poverty.

One of the last events of 2021 for The Community Lunch Program for Kids will be distributing brand new winter coats to all children in our program. This fall we will distribute 159 winter coats. (Again, any coats left over will be given to NNCS for other students in need.) This winter coat give-away, as well as the BACK2SCHOOL event, was made possible by a very generous grant from The Alcoa Foundation.

We would also like to thank The NNCS Teachers’ Association, Price Chopper (Golub Foundation), Merriman and Sons, and Knowlton and Sons for their financial support of The Community Lunch Program for Kids over the past several years.

This past July, CLPK celebrated its fifth birthday! Our theme was “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!” We would like to express our sincerest thanks to all those who have supported us along the way. Our success is your success! And will hopefully lead to the success of the children in the NNCS district facing food insecurity.

Be well! Be safe!

Have a great fall!

Wendy Chambers
Community Lunch Program for Kids