SICM And Their Hundreds Of Volunteers Help Feed Hungry Kids All Summer Long
Schenectady Inner City Ministry has been recruiting volunteers for 15 years to help provide free lunches while school is out all summer. Some volunteers donate 1-8 weeks of their time, while others stay on board for the entire summer. More than 60 teams of volunteers work together to help feed kids at 13 different sites.
SICM only employs one person dedicated to their Summer Lunch Program, and has almost 700 volunteers. Without so many people willing to donate their time, energy and money, the organization would never be able to provide lunch for 900 - 1000 kids per day.
The volunteers often have no understanding of hunger until they find themselves face-to-face with hungry children every day of the summer. After seeing this repeatedly all summer, many of the volunteers take a message back to their businesses, community organizations and churches, and help educate the community about hunger issues.
This year, the program ran for the entire duration of summer vacation, from July 27 - September 2. The food served is a variety of hot and cold lunches, very similar to what these children eat in school. Over 32,000 meals were prepared and distributed last summer.
SICM has been named a finalist in the Summer Food Service Program Story & Photo Contest, and needs your vote! The public has the final word in the contest, as more than 100 applications have been narrowed down to the finalists, and the voting has begun. Winners will be honored and recognized on a national stage.
Please visit the website and vote for this organization. They provide an invaluable service to the community, and most people volunteer out of the kindness of their heart.
Thank you, SICM, for keeping the food in while school is out.
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