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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Saturday, June 30, 2018

O'Connell: "Hunger Doesn't Take a Summer Vacation"

Allentown's Future
O'Connell tries to register a few voters
On Friday morning, Attorney Scott Allinson was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for his role in a pay-to-play scandal that included former Mayor Edwin Pawlowski and several other high-ranking City officials. But at another end of town, the mood was much brighter. Cedar Beach Park was packed as hundreds of kids from all over the city were there for Cedar Sports Day.  Basketball courts were busy as youngsters defied the heat and raced up and down the macadam courts as teenagers festooned in Irish green "STAFF" T-shirts made sure everyone stayed hydrated. In the midst of it all was Mayor Ray O'Connell. The teacher-turned-politician worked the crowd, though they're a bit too young to vote for him. His real reason for being there was to announce the expansion of a summer meal program that gives Allentown's most important asset, its youth, something it desperately needs - hope.

Hendricks has just returned from hunger conference
In Pennsylvania, one out of every five children lives in a home without consistent access to food. In Allentown, where the poverty level is 26.7%, so many kids are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches that school officials decided to make that program available to everyone during the school year. But what happens when school lets out for the summer?

Currently, meals are served to 1,500 children at a total of 64 sites in Allentown over the summer months as part of the City's 105 year-old playground program. But that's only a fraction of the City's 17,000 children.  Thanks to the help of many caring people, O'Connell is announcing an expansion of that program at five new locations: Allentown Public Library; Lehigh Valley Hospital - 17th St; Greater Valley YMCA; Alliance Hall of Allentown; and Mosser Village Family Center.

Mota pledged to get the word out
"One thing we know for sure is that hunger does not take a summer vacation," said O'Connell. This expansion ensures that no child need go hungry this summer. "Good things happen when as a community, we come together for a common purpose, and that common purpose is to feed our youth," said O'Connell.

He credited the Allentown Health Bureau, Parks and Recreation, the School District, Lehigh Valley Children Centers, Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council and other community organizations.

As a former teacher and school principal, O'Connell said there is a direct relation between food and learning capacity. "Too many students regress over the summer, not necessarily because they're not reading or doing math, but they're hungry," he observed.

O'Connell: "Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation."
O'Connell asked several of the people who worked on this expansion to say a few words.

Ellen O'Brien, who retired from Allentown School District on Friday, agreed that food security does not end with the end of the school year.

Lehigh Valley Health Network's Cathy Coyne, who said her center provided lunches to 14 kids on their first day, pointed out that food insecure children have a greater risk of illness.

Greater Valley YMCA's Maribel Tandazo actually has five open sites, and has served over 1,000 meals this summer. Some of the children have told her that they are more than food insecure. When they return home, there is no food at all.

CACLV's Susan Dalandan said that, in 2016, the number of Lehigh Valley sites serving meals to children had dropped to 60, and reached only a very small percentage of food insecure children. This year, it's double that amount. 

Allentown Health Bureau's Tina Amato had a message for parents who are worried about where they will find theur next meal."We are here to help you."

"I know all too well what happens when children don't have a meal," said Allentown City Council member Daryl Hendricks, a retired police captain. "They tend to act out."

"The children are our future,"added City Council member Cynthia Mota. She vowed to do her best to get the word out. 

Families can call 211 or text "food" to 877-877 to find the closest free summer meal site.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll begin with the obvious, but most controversial, question.

"Why is our long-standing Food Stamp benefit program no longer adequate to serve the need?"

With that out of the way, Ray O'Connell is demonstrating the precise kind of leadership Allentown sorely needed. Hope the City keeps him around as long as he's willing to serve. Good man.

Anonymous said...

Why not also offer parenting classes as well to educate the parent how to take acre of the child??

Anonymous said...

I'm waiting for O'Connell to do something substantial about the Lehigh County Authority's money-grab that adds more than $100 a year to Allentown residents' water bills (by opting to bill monthly instead of quarterly and thereby inflicting a $13 a month billing fee).

Anonymous said...

This is a perfect example why we do not need any, no skill immigrants into the country. Democrats just love more dependent class people for the rest to take care of.

Anonymous said...

Maybe instead of playing basketball, they should be getting a summer job.

Anonymous said...

For there will never cease to be poor in the land

Deuteronomy 15:11

Anonymous said...

8:28AM -

Know this, there will cease to be taxpayers to pay for their upkeep.

Logic 6:2018

Anonymous said...

At one time children with no access to food were reported to local Children and Youth and the Pa. state run Childline would take a report. What else are these kids lacking and why is this not reported? Agencies not reporting this should fall under mandated reporting requirements. This is neglect and should be reported. Giving out food just masks the other horrors in these kids lives.

Anonymous said...

Allentown doesn't have enough life guards to keep their pools open. How about several of the hundreds playing games, work for the summer. Help defray the cost to the taxpayer. Learn responsibility. etc.

Anonymous said...

8.14
"Democrats just love more dependent class people for the rest to take care of."
Yep,do not worry the republicans want to get rid of all those programs,"meals on wheels" was another example of out of control socialists.
Wanting to deny a hungry kid a meal is true example of the values of the republican party.

Anonymous said...

9.16
"Help defray the cost to the taxpayer. Learn responsibility. etc"
So when a business owner gets a tax break he can do some public service to help defray the cost to the taxpayer?
Seems those business owners could be out patching potholes to show their gratitude for the largess granted them.

Anonymous said...

It must be working....all the pictures had what appeared to be strong, healthy, beautiful, able bodied children and adults.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Maybe instead of playing basketball, they should be getting a summer job."

Oh right, let's put a seven year old kid to work. maybe you can have him pick up pieces of coal and throw them in a rail car.

Ugly Americans.

My hope is that most of this disgusting hate is coming from the same one or two people.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am enabling comment moderation for the remainder of the weekend. These ugly Americans are also ugly cowards and won't ID themselves. It's sad what we've become.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"I'm waiting for O'Connell to do something substantial about the Lehigh County Authority's money-grab that adds more than $100 a year to Allentown residents' water bills (by opting to bill monthly instead of quarterly and thereby inflicting a $13 a month billing fee)."

Translation: I don't care about other people. Just myself.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"So when a business owner gets a tax break he can do some public service to help defray the cost to the taxpayer?"

Actually, I think some businesses are pitching in to help Allentown kids. I did not list them bc I am unsure. I will try to find out.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Why not also offer parenting classes as well to educate the parent how to take acre of the child??"

Why not also offer human decency classes to educate ugly Americans on how to stop looking down their noses?

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Allentown doesn't have enough life guards to keep their pools open. How about several of the hundreds playing games, work for the summer. Help defray the cost to the taxpayer. Learn responsibility. etc."

In case you haven't noticed, most of these children aren't old enough to be lifeguards. For those who are, they have gone thru a few years with no pools because you have been irresponsible and have not been able to keep them open. So even if they wanted, they were unable to take the classes to be certified as a lifeguard. The American Red Cross does not just hand those out.

Anonymous said...

What the Hell does that have to do with being Mayor? The guy is clueless.

Anonymous said...

You mean most of these "kids" have been thrown out of public pools. We see it in Easton and Bethlehem. They don't know how to act no parenting. They are irresponsible. They want their "hoops" so they can play in the NBA.lol

Anonymous said...

Hello!

Anonymous said...

"I'm waiting for O'Connell to do something substantial about the Lehigh County Authority's money-grab that adds more than $100 a year to Allentown residents' water bills (by opting to bill monthly instead of quarterly and thereby inflicting a $13 a month billing fee)."

Translation: I don't care about other people. Just myself.

Bernie, don't be such a hater. One concern is not exclusive of the other. In fact, the water bill hike will disproportionately affect the same lower income residents whose children are missing the free or subsidized school lunches.

Anonymous said...

Well Is it not about time the bloggers donate some of time? Don't see them doing anything to help. but calling out others.... when can we expect to see you out there?

Anonymous said...

Well Is it not about time the bloggers donate some of time? Don't see them doing anything to help. but calling out others.... when can we expect to see you out there?

Anonymous said...

Nothing ugly about the truth.

Anonymous said...

4.28
Those businesses that are helping out deserve credit as they do not have to help.
There are plenty of great corporate citizens.
Please list them when you find out.
The one thing i have noticed is the folks who think it is a sin to feed a hungry kid do not blink an eye if say a defense contractor wastes a billion dollars.
Corporate welfare is never on their radar but being a dick to hungry kids is.

Anonymous said...

A hungry stomach is the most powerful motivator in the world.

Anonymous said...

Nice job Ray !

Anonymous said...

This is one of my priorities. And St Judes Children's Hospital. Please consider donating to your local food bank and St Judes