In its continued effort to fight childhood hunger and provide a place of enlightenment for children outside of the traditional educational setting, the Bethlehem YMCA has received a grant to provide free lunches to summer campers.
Bethlehem YMCA Assistant Summer Camp Director Joanna DePace said the organization applied for and received a $7,500 grant through the Walmart Foundation. A portion of the money was put towards the camp’s summer camp scholarship fund, while $4,500 went toward providing free lunches to campers.
“For some children in our communities, the end of the school year means end of meals,” said DePace. “At the Y, we are focused on making sure children stay healthy and well nourished. Thanks to the partnership with the Walmart Foundation, our Y will be able to provide meals to children in the community who need them most.”
About 500 children attend summer camp at the Bethlehem YMCA each year. DePace said many attend through a scholarship program and come from communities outside of the town. Many campers are from the Troy area this year. She said at times, the children are sent to camp without a lunch because families cannot afford the extra meal that is usually received for free during the school year.
Through the grant, all campers now are given lunch and a healthy snack for free. It is part of a mission from YMCA organizations throughout the country to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 children through summer meals programs.
“At Walmart, we recognize the need to support the development of our nation’s youth,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation, in a statement. “We know that providing access to healthy meals during the summer months will enable students to return to school healthy, prepared and ready to succeed. By working closely with the Bethlehem YMCA we can help kids have better summers and, ultimately, better lives.”
DePace said because of the new pavilion built on the Y’s grounds, which includes a kitchen with running water, children are often given the opportunity to cook their own meals at lunch time as part of the camp experience.
Construction on the pavilion began in April and it is now finished for campers to enjoy. The 3,200-square-foot structure includes an eating area, room for activities, a food service area, bathrooms and storage space. The entire project cost about $490,000, with $250,000 obtained through grants and $115,000 coming from donations. The remainder was paid by the YMCA.
“To have running water and real bathrooms has been great,” said DePace. “People got their moneys worth.”
The grant will also help to feed children in the “Circle of Champs” program at the Bethlehem YMCA. The program provides fun activities and events throughout the year for children with disabilities or a life-threatening illness. Those children are fed up to three meals a day through the grant money, said DePace.
“We can now provide help to families who really need it to provide lunch for their children, but the grant also helps others involved with the Bethlehem YMCA and everyone attending our camps,” she said.