Social-ministry leaders from St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads and Blessed Sacrament and Christ the Redeemer parishes in Elmira, along with members of the Chemung County Ladies of Charity and the Knights of Columbus, partnered with Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler during the summer to serve free summer lunches to 30 to 40 children daily at Thorne Street Park in Horseheads. The meals at Thorne Street Park were prepared by the Elmira City School District.
The free summer meals are administered nationwide by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are funded through the federal Child Nutrition Program. The meals were available to children at parks and other locations across Chemung County during the summer months. The meals helped assure that children eat adequate, nutritious meals during the summer when school is out and school lunch is not available.
