Breakfast for needy kids at Shirley library

The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library is hosting a free breakfast program for children this summer.

The library is the first on Long Island to participate in the free meal program sponsored by Long Island Cares’ Harry Chapin Food Bank and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The program, which began Tuesday, will run weekdays until Aug. 31. All children need to do to get a free meal is show up at the library at 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m., a spokeswoman for the library said. The program is for those 18 years old or younger who live in the William Floyd school district, she said.

“Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again,” said a statement issued by the library.

Each breakfast consists of fruit, a drink and individually packaged food items such as granola bars, muffins and cereal, the spokeswoman said.

The library is located at 407 William Floyd Pkwy., Shirley.