Friday, November 13, 2026
When school lets out, many children lose access to the nutritious meals they rely on during the academic year.
In Freeport, Roosevelt, Hempstead, and Long Beach, Long Island Cares is bridging that critical gap through its Summer Food Service Program, ensuring that at-risk children continue to receive healthy meals throughout the summer months.
Kerry Tooker, manager of child nutrition programs at Long Island Cares, has been at the forefront of this vital initiative since 2013.
“When school ends, kids who are typically receiving nutritious meals during the school day, breakfast and lunch at school, no longer have that available to them,” Tooker explains.
The program operates at multiple sites in Freeport, including Ready, Set, Grow at 63 Babylon Turnpike and Boss Babies on 393 W Sunrise Highway.
These two programs will run from July 7 to August 22 and are Monday through Friday.
In Roosevelt, meals are available at Rozzie’s Day Camp, located at 375 Nassau Road; the Cloud Center at 163–165 Nassau Road; and the Roosevelt EOC at 281 Babylon Turnpike. All three Roosevelt locations operate Monday through Friday from June 30 through August 22.
All three Roosevelt locations operate Monday through Friday from June 30 through August 22.
This year, Long Island Cares expects to serve approximately 135 children in Freeport alone, with a total of around 1,600 children across all their summer programs.
These aren’t just any meals. Following USDA “my plate” guidelines, each meal is carefully designed to provide complete nutrition.
Breakfast includes three components, while lunch offers five. Florian’s Food Service caters the lunch meals, delivering fresh food daily to program sites.
The program specifically targets low-income areas where schools participate in the Community Eligibility Program, indicating that over 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
“To reach them is a very important mission for us, because we want to reach the kids that are most at risk,” Tooker emphasizes.
Coordinating such an extensive program is no small feat. It requires collaboration with the USDA and New York State Department of Education, rigorous staff training, and careful site selection.
Tooker and her team ensure each location can safely store and serve meals, with volunteers playing a crucial role in food preparation and delivery.
The biggest challenge? Manpower. With only three employees, one intern, and 10-15 volunteers, the team works tirelessly to monitor and execute the program. This year, an intern from Empire State Summer Corps will provide additional support.
Tooker’s commitment stems from a deeply personal mission.
Before joining Long Island Cares, she ran a food pantry called Grace Care for 18 years.
“I’ve seen up close... everybody’s got a story,” she reflects. “To be able to meet a need like this that’s just so basic for every person is very rewarding.”
The meals themselves are designed to be both nutritious and enjoyable.
Children might experience build-your-own pizza days, Taco Tuesdays, or favorite combinations like yogurt with sunflower seeds and cornbread.
Each meal always includes a vegetable, fruit, and milk.
Families can register their children by contacting the local summer camps involved to see if registration is still open.
The response from families has been overwhelmingly positive.
“They absolutely love it,” Tooker says. “I’ve gotten so many thank yous and words of appreciation from families.”
For Tooker, the program is about more than just food. It’s about providing a social moment for children, a time to relax and connect during summer camp activities. “Kids React great to the meals,” she notes. “It’s a great social time, a little downtime from all the activities.”
As summer progresses, Long Island Cares will continue its mission of feeding children in need, ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school break.
Through dedication, collaboration, and a profound commitment to community, Tooker and her team are making a significant difference in children’s lives, one meal at a time.
