#BVILLESTRONG: School meals, senior nutrition, food pantries and more

Whether you are in need or are looking for ways to help, there are plenty of opportunities in the Baldwinsville area to help those struggling with food insecurity, especially during the COVID-19 shutdown.

BCSD offers meals for eligible students

The Baldwinsville Central School District has arranged meal pickup sites for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Families may pick up two days’ worth of meals — including breakfast and lunch — between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at either Ray Middle School (7650 Van Buren Road) or Baker High School (29 E. Oneida St.).

“Delivery of meals will be handled on an as-needed basis. For delivery information, call 315-638-6097,” read a post on the BCSD’s Facebook page.

If your financial situation has changed during this time, families can apply for free and reduced meals now. Download the application on the BCSD website, print and return to the district. Forms are also available at the meal distribution locations during distribution hours. They can also be turned in at the distribution locations during distribution hours.

Rotary Backpack Program accepting donations

By Lizzy Martin, B’ville Rotary

The Baldwinsville Rotary Backpack Program is on! Baldwinsville Rotary will continue to provide weekly bags of breakfast and snacks to children who need helping getting through the weekends, except the need has now increased tenfold. Normally we pack about 30 bags each week, but now we will provide bags for the 200-plus kids that are picking up meals while school is out. I know many have been asking how they can help and now we will really need it. We are looking for donations of the following:

-breakfast cereals in prepackaged individual servings
-breakfast or granola bars
-single serving boxes of raisins
-fruit snacks
-fruit cups
-pudding and jello cups
-packages of crackers with peanut butter or cheese
-individual packets of cookies, chips and crackers
-juice boxes

The donations cannot be expired and must be new, in the package.

Here are the locations and hours for when and where to donate:

Ray and Baker schools: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Northwest YMCA: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Any donations outside of our list of items will go to the local food pantry, so please drop off anything you can spare. It will all go to good use for those in need right now!