Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents have had difficulty putting food on the table. The virus has left residents either unable to afford groceries due to furloughs and layoffs or too scared to go to the grocery store.
Many municipalities have been taking steps to provide free food to residents.
West New York has focused its 2020 Summer Food Service Program on providing residents with relief in the form of food for the youth.
Mayor Rodriguez, Commissioner Cirillo and the Division of Recreation announced plans to move forward with the 2020 Summer Food Service Program in late June.
Under the program, free dinner and snacks will be provided for West New York residents, ages 18 and under.
Parents, guardians and minors will be allowed to make the daily pickups. The names of minors must be provided when any pickup is made by adults.
The town will also be including weekly surprises to take home throughout the program.
The Summer Food Service Program will run Monday through Friday, from July 6 to August 28. Residents can pick up meals from 3:30PM to 5:30PM, weather permitting.
Meanwhile, the Board of Education will continue to serve free breakfast and lunch.
“This is an important partnership between the Town of West New York and West New York Board of Education that will provide vital meals throughout the summer,” according to a statement by the town of West New York. “Our goal is to provide our residents with relief during our current health and economic crisis.”
Pickup locations will include Elementary Schools 1, 2, 3, 4 and the Middle School.
Each family is allowed to pick up their free daily meals at only one location per day. Social distancing will be encouraged and enforced.
For questions or more information, residents are advised to call 201-295-5120.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
