Speaker Heastie Continues Statewide Tour by Visiting Youth Participating in Summer Program
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Pictured with Speaker Heastie in the first photo at the Historic Salem Courthouse Community Center (from left to right): President of the Board of Directors for Lunch, Learn and Play Bob Akland and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner. -
Pictured with Speaker Heastie in the second photo: Assemblymember Carrie Woerner and participating in the Lunch, Learn and Play participants.
"I am fortunate to spend a lot of time in New York's Capital Region, but today allowed me the opportunity to look a bit more closely at what makes this area so special," said Speaker Heastie. "The Assembly Majority has always been committed to putting families first, so family friendly summer youth programs like the one we saw today are what we believe helps make upstate New York such a great place to live and call home."
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Woerner paid a visit to the Historic Salem Courthouse Community Center to visit local kids participating in the Lunch, Learn and Play free six-week summer program. The program serves about 140 children from kindergarten through sixth grade in Salem and surrounding towns and gives working parents a safe, healthy and educational place for their children to enjoy the day.
"While summertime is often an enjoyable time for children, for many hardworking New York families it often poses serious challenges in securing safe, affordable childcare," said Assemblymember Woerner. "Lunch, Learn and Play offers local families relief and provides children with a fun and educational summer curriculum. I am extremely grateful for the Speaker's visit today, and also for his commitment to putting New York families first."
The Lunch, Learn and Play program takes place in the Youth Barn at the Historic Salem Courthouse Community Center and includes an outdoor space, as well as field trips and community walks. The children enjoy a nutritious lunch and snack each day prepared in the Battenkill Kitchen, and are taken to visit the Courthouse Community Garden and local farms to see where their food comes from.
Over the course of six weeks, local individuals and organizations present over 80 educational, creative, informational and fun activities for the children to enjoy.