From left, YMCA Team Members Ethan Luce, Cody Neubauer, Stacey Thomas, YMCA CEO John Barber and No Kid Hungry CEO Anne Filipic at an awards presentation in New York City recently.

The Jamestown Area YMCA has been honored by the No Kid Hungry organization in New York City for its efforts to fight child hunger and food insecurity throughout Chautauqua County.

John Barber, YMCA chief executive officer, said YMCA officials were recently invited to New York City to be presented with the award by Michelle Roberts of the Buffalo Bills Foundation, which has invested in the mission of No Kid Hungry, and Anne Filipic, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry CEO.

“No Kid Hungry has supported various aspects of Jamestown YMCA’s efforts to expand work in the Jamestown region since 2019, when they invested $5,000 to help us install a ramp and jumper seat into our delivery vehicle,” Barber said. “Since that time, they have made repeated investments in our work, which have included funds for major infrastructure items, such as a walk-in cooler or commercial freezer, that have become essential tools sustaining our work.”

The Jamestown Area YMCA has intensified its efforts to address adolescent food insecurity and hunger by providing essential meal services during a time when economically disadvantaged children may face challenges in accessing proper nutrition, specifically during the summer months. This concern arises from the understanding that, for some children, the public school system serves as their primary source of food during the school year, potentially creating a gap in nourishment during the summer break.

The YMCA’s summer meal program served around 35,527 meals at 13 locations across the city of Jamestown as well as Falconer, Frewsburg, and Busti locations from July 1 through Aug. 30, 2024. The program served 33,166 at 16 sites the previous year. Additionally, Y offers other types of food services programming during the school year.

Barber noted that even with a reduction in the number of distribution sites, the YMCA’s food program is experiencing an increase in utilization.

“We served at fewer sites because we coordinated with Jamestown Public Schools, who have jumped in to help with the summer meal effort by offering three meal sites at summer learning locations the Y had served in 2023. This allowed these sites to get onsite-prepared hot meals from the school’s excellent food service team. This JPS assistance with summer meal programming allowed the YMCA to pivot our meal service model to expand access to a relatively new USDA-approved non-congregate service model available in ‘rural designated’ locations, allowing us to serve Grab N’ Go meals,” said Barber in 2024.

Barber highlighted that the collaboration with the No Kid Hungry organization has significantly amplified the YMCA’s visibility, elevating its mission across both national and state stages. This partnership has not only sparked a vibrant exchange of ideas but has also fostered a deeper understanding of the impactful work being done to combat childhood hunger by the YMCA and other non-profit organizations.

“The Jamestown YMCA has been able to serve as a resource to No Kid Hungry and other partners across the nation by sharing the insights we have learned as an organization with others expanding similar work in their communities,” Barber said. “This partnership included presenting on national webinar sessions, hosting a film crew to meet and see people impacted by our work, and presenting at their national conference.”

For more information on the YMCA’s food program, contact the YMCA at 716-664-2802 or visit jamestownymca.org.