Student Tribune
USDA Summer Food Service Program to Provide Nutritious Meals for 750 Healthy Heroes
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food
Service Program (SFSP) provides free nutritious meals and snacks to
children and teens during the summer months via selected sites, including
Monroe Community College. Thanks to a $105,000 USDA grant, participants in
MCC’s Be A Healthy Hero Summer Camp will receive nutritious meals between
June 27 and July 29, 2022.
Now in its eighth year*, the five-week Be A Healthy Hero Summer Camp
motivates Rochester-area children, ages 6 to 13, to stay physically and
intellectually active. This year alone, the camp will educate 750 children in
math and language arts and provide sessions on nutrition, character
development, music, drug and alcohol avoidance, and teambuilding. In addition
to promoting positive behavior, the camp helps reduce health and learning
declines that sometimes occur over the summer months.
The camp is made possible with the generous support of the Greater Rochester
Health Foundation, ESL Charitable Foundation, Glover-Crask Charitable Trust,
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, Konar Foundation, and the
Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the MCC Foundation.
Led by MCC Program Director Elizabeth Fell Kelly, Ed.D., the camp
incorporates:
- 20 hours per week of fitness activities such as swimming, Zumba,
yoga, football, basketball, volleyball and lacrosse
- 10 hours of high-quality academic enrichment programs in reading
and mathematics aimed at eliminating summer learning loss
- Health education instruction in proper nutrition, character
development, drug and alcohol avoidance, teambuilding and personal
decision-making
- Healthy breakfasts and lunches every day
- Bus transportation between several city of Rochester sites and
MCC
Twenty-four junior counselors, ages 13 to 18, selected and funded by
RochesterWorks! will assist in instruction, mentoring and role modeling. An
additional 25 youth volunteers are also gaining experience assisting with the
program.
To support the Be A Healthy Hero Summer Camp, contact the MCC Foundation at
(585) 262-1500 or mccf@monroecc.edu.
Monroe Community College is an equal opportunity provider.
* The camp was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yule, Rosanna
Community Relations
06/24/2022