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08/06/2018 12:00 AMThe Tri-Town Youth Services Summer Backpack Program has expanded due to large public interest and positive feedback from the communities of Chester, Deep River, and Essex. Kids from families in need will now have access to nourishing meals from more locations through Friday, Aug. 24.
“I’m happy to report that the Summer Backpack Program is expanding,” said Tri-Town Youth Services Executive Director Allison Abramson. “Food is now available in the Ivoryton, Deep River, and Chester libraries. We hope that this program change is more convenient for families, and makes the food more easily accessible.”
The program launched earlier this summer at the Deep River Library to help during school break, when families whose kids who receive free or reduced-price meals at school can feel the pinch. Through the program, kids are invited to the library for an arts and crafts program and go home with eight food items.
Now, Deep River Public Library, Ivoryton Public Library, and Chester Public Library will be offering food to those families in need during library hours each Thursday. Families are welcome to take a bag of nutritious food during the hours the libraries are open.
“Once school starts again, children will have access to free or reduced lunch and the local weekend backpack programs will start back up, providing additional food for the weekends,” said Abramson.
Community members have continued to donate to the program, allowing Tri-Town Youth Services to replenish each library’s supply of food weekly until the end of the summer.
Abramson spent one Sunday at Chester’s Market where she said she “raised $200 for the program and secured food donations from General Mills. The community’s response has been tremendous.
“Chester Rotary has been a champion of this summer backpack program, helping us coordinate with the libraries, packing and distributing food,” said Abramson. “We are incredibly grateful to Rotarian Deborah Vilcheck for her commitment to food insecure families in our community.”
For more information, contact Tri-Town Youth Services at 860-526-3600 or visit tritownys.org.