By Lily Donegan
The arrival of the summer season can be filled with varying emotions for children and families. The excitement of carefree days ahead, warm weather, and time spent outside with friends and family is often felt. Yet, for some families, the reality of food insecurity becomes more prominent. With schools coming to a close, the free or heavily reduced lunch or breakfasts come to a sudden halt, forcing families to come up with a new game plan for putting food on the table. While the summertime commonly embodies a spirit of relaxation and recreation, this is not the reality for all Greenwich families.
For many households, as the very last school bell rings, anxiety sets in when thinking about where the next meal will come from. This is where Neighbor to Neighbor, a food pantry supporting Greenwich residents, steps up to lend a helping hand. Every year, Neighbor to Neighbor implements a Summer Supplement program that’s designed to bridge the gap by providing additional weekly food for families with school aged children. The seasonal program kicks off as soon as school is out of session and runs the entire duration of summer break. The seamless transition eases the burden for many Greenwich families. Each family with children is sent home with an additional bag of food to help make ends meet.
Guaranteeing that our neighbors go home with an adequate amount of food requires immense commitment from our weekly volunteers. Neighbor to Neighbors dedicated volunteers work diligently to pack hundreds of bags filled with child-focused items for the program.These bags contain a variety of nutritious options like fresh fruits, granola bars, and juice, carefully chosen with families in mind. As clients visit for their weekly shopping, these bags are readily available to provide immediate relief from hunger. However, the program goes beyond just addressing hunger. The primary goal is to ensure that children have access to healthy food options, promoting their overall wellbeing and keeping them fueled for the long summer days. Neighbor to Neighbor takes great pride in providing our neighbors with wholesome and nourishing food all year round.
Typically, in the Summer, Neighbor to Neighbor experiences a decline overall in giving. However, the need in Greenwich remains apparent. Since the beginning of the year, NTN has seen a 20% increase in the number of people walking through the doors looking for assistance. And as we move towards the start of our Summer Supplement program, there is still more to be done. Neighbor to Neighbor is currently serving around 330 Greenwich families with school aged children on a weekly basis. With donor fatigue and general donations slowing down during this time of year, it can be quite the feat. What can be done?
Community participation and general awareness is what can push Neighbor to Neighbor towards another successful Summer of helping families in need. NTN is always looking for general food donations and food drive hosts. Food drives can either be physical or virtual and they are a great way to get involved on your own time with friends and family over the summer months. Items typically needed for the Summer Supplement program include: granola bars, fruit cups, juice, and fresh fruit, etc. If you are interested in lending a hand for the Summer Supplement program please visit the Neighbor to Neighbor website for more information. Support from the community is what enables NTN to continue feeding and supplying our neighbors with daily necessities.
As summer quickly approaches, this is a reminder that hunger does not take a vacation and neither should our generosity. And while donations may slow down in the Summer, Neighbor to Neighbor does not. Help us prepare to provide school aged children with nutritious food options all summer long. With you by our side we can foster a healthier and hopeful future for all. We are in this together.
Lily Donegan is the Communications/Public Relations coordinator at Neighbor to Neighbor.
