PINE BUSH, N.Y. (July 10, 2025) – School is out for the summer, which means FREE Summer Meals are now available in Pine Bush, N.Y.

On Wednesday, July 9, the Pine Bush Central School District and American Dairy Association North East partnered with anti-hunger advocates, local leaders, and community partners to kick off the annual program with its first weekly distribution at a community health fair.

Joining Pine Bush Central School District and American Dairy Association North East at the event were representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension and local dairy farmer Stacey Stap, of Stap Dairy Farm in Pine Bush, N.Y., along with a calf for students and families to meet. The health fair also featured a smoothie bike, an interactive way for students to make their own pedal-powered healthy smoothies.

This is the first year Pine Bush Central School District is offering Summer Meals To Go, providing families with five-day meal boxes with a variety of fresh seasonal produce, breakfast cereal and cereal bars, milk, peanut butter or eggs and cheese. These weekly distributions will take place every Wednesday until August 20 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Pine Bush High School cafeteria.

As in years past, Pine Bush Central School District will be providing daily breakfast and lunch pickup at Circleville Church at 890 Goshen Turnpike in Circleville Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Each meal includes healthy staples like milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, helping kids stay nourished and energized while school is out of session.

Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, both meal options are sponsored by Pine Bush Central School District and are free and available to all children 18 and younger. For questions, please email caitlin.lazarski@pinebushschools.org or call 845 744-2031, ext. 4826.

“Pine Bush’s Summer Meals program ensures access to nutritious meals during the summer, preparing students for the new school year,” said Caitlin Lazarski, Director of School Nutrition at Pine Bush Central School District. “These community partnerships help expand reach to bring meals to where students gather, reducing transportation and access barriers.”

Summer Meal programs are more important than ever. When schools close for the summer, millions of children lose access to free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches—putting them at risk of hunger. The need is growing: while more students are receiving free or reduced-price meals during the school year, participation in summer meal programs is declining. According to the Food Research & Action Center, this leaves more than 18 million children without access to the meals they need.

Here in New York, 2.8 million people and one in five children face hunger according to Feeding America, and a report by the NY Health Foundation shows hunger is at the highest level in five years.

That’s why raising awareness is so critical.

American Dairy Association North East and local dairy farmers are proud to partner with schools and anti-hunger organizations to promote this vital program. For families, the cost of feeding children during the summer can climb by as much as $300 per month—Summer Meals help ease that burden while keeping kids healthy and ready to learn in the fall.

“We’re helping families to access free, healthy meals all summer long,” said Toni Wasi, Youth Nutrition Specialist for American Dairy Association North East. “We work with local schools and community partners to promote and expand access to free summer meal sites—so every child can enjoy healthy, tasty meals, no questions asked.”

In addition to Pine Bush, families can find free meals at convenient community locations like schools, parks, libraries, pools, and even mobile meal trucks—bringing healthy food closer to where families live, learn, and play. To find a free Summer Meals site near you:

  • Visit americandairy.com/summermeals
  • Text:   FOOD (or COMIDA for Spanish) to 304-304
  • Call:  1-866-3-HUNGRY (English) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish)

Help spread the word—because no child should go hungry this summer.