Hempstead free lunch program returns Fridays

The Village of Hempstead, in partnership with Island Harvest, is sponsoring a free lunch program for the second year this summer.

The program will provide free meals to local children younger than 18. The program will take place Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. until Aug. 23 at Campbell Park, on Evans and Linden avenues.

Participating children will be provided with sandwiches, fruit, juice and milk, along with games and activities at the park.

The community food program typically serves about 50 children, but the village can accommodate whoever turns out. The program is intended to help feed children whose families might be struggling financially.

Island Harvest is Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization, bringing millions of pounds of food to a network of 570 Long Island-based pantries, soup kitchens and nonprofit organizations.