Photo of Power Scholars Academy, a program of the YMCA — by Erich Camping

Healthy Food, Bright Futures: Summer Meals at Power Scholars Academy

The Summer Meals program helps ensure that youth can fully engage in summer programs like Power Scholars Academy, with full bellies and peace of mind. This year, the Community Foundation contributed $105,000 in Summer Meals grants to 11 programs across our region. Read about one of those programs below.

Grant Expands Summer Meals Access 

Power Scholars Academy is a free 5-week summer learning loss prevention program offered by the YMCA. Kids ages 4 to 14 experience academic learning in literacy and math, play that gets their bodies moving, and activities that build friendships and nourish young minds.  

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is determined that no child should go hungry simply because school is out for the summer.

Through a partnership with Foodlink and the Summer Meals Program, the YMCA provides free breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to children in the program and families in the community. The program focuses on the St. Paul neighborhood, one of Rochester’s most underserved communities. 

A $7,300 grant from the Community Foundation helped expand the program to provide 1,000 more meals this summer. At the end of five weeks, they served 9,500 meals to 170 children and neighborhood families. 

Bringing Fresh Food Into the Neighborhood 

Grant dollars supported YMCA staff in delivering meals directly to the Power Scholars Academy classrooms, serving meals in the backyard of RCSD School #8 Roberto Clemente, and engaging with neighborhood youth. 

Flyers were handed out in local playgrounds and basketball courts, encouraging families to participate in programs or simply stop by for a free, nutritious meal — no registration required. 

The grant also helped the YMCA purchase an outdoor rolling refrigerator, welcoming more people to access fresh food by making it highly visible in neighborhood spaces.