Families looking for their next meal now have another place to turn.
The Patchogue Medford Library, Brookhaven Free Library, and Patchogue Medford Youth and Community Service are all offering free grab-and-go breakfast and lunches to those in need throughout the summer.
The organizations have teamed up with Island Harvest, Long Island’s largest food bank, to make this happen.
“Almost half the students in the Patchogue-Medford School District are eligible to receive free or reduced-fee lunch during the school year,” said Danielle Paisley, director of the Patchogue-Medford Library. “The question was, ‘How do we increase access to healthy food for these kids over the summer?’
“That’s when Island Harvest stepped in and proposed our partnership.”
Island Harvest provides the food and the libraries distribute. It’s a win-win situation, says Paisley.
“The library is open all summer long, can provide a safe and welcoming environment to pick up lunches and spread the word about other resources that are available in the community,” she said. “It truly is a perfect match.”
The free meals ware available for pickup at 54-60 East Main Street, Monday-Friday, from noon to 1 p.m., now through Aug. 28.
There are also grab-and-go activity kits for children.
The Brookhaven Free Library, located at 101 Fireplace Neck Road in Brookhaven, will be giving out meals Monday-Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., now through Aug. 21.
And the Patchogue-Medford Youth Community Services (390 Bay Ave., Patchogue) wil be running this program on Tuesday and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., through Aug. 21.
