WHEN SCHOOL'S OUT, COMMUNITY STEPS IN
• Free monthly book deliveries and reading
challenges through Dolly Parton's Imagination
Library - a United Way partner - or book exchanges
at Little Free Libraries in high-traffic
areas
• Gardening classes, nature appreciation classes
and swim lessons through local parks and recreation
• Free weekly youth workshops offered by many
public museums, zoos and botanical gardens
• Free virtual museum field trips through institutions
like the Smithsonian and NASA Glenn
Research Center
• Free online courses in topics ranging from
coding to art or language learning
Accessing Your Community's Food Network
Families shouldn't have to choose between nutritious
food and other essentials. Help is available
to ensure kids have the nutrition needed to
thrive over the summer. While resources vary by
community, examples include:
• Youth-serving organizations serving as open
summer meal sites, offering free breakfast and
lunch to kids and teens
• City parks departments offering daily meal
stations
• School districts offering summer meal programs;
food delivery may be an option
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• Local places of worship hosting open-door
meal programs or distributing weekend grocery
bags for families
For those looking to make a difference this summer,
consider lending a hand to help children
and families. Volunteering is a rewarding way
to give back to your community. Whether it's
mentoring, serving meals, reading with students
or supporting local programs, even a small time
investment can make a lasting impact. After all,
when families thrive, communities thrive.
To learn more about childhood summer learning
programs, food initiatives and ways to support
your community, visit unitedway.org.
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FEATURE IMPACT
The joy of being a kid on summer vacation
offers a time to explore with your friends,
discover new things about the world and
yourself and recharge for a few months before
heading back to school in the fall. However, for
millions of families, the end of the school year
also marks the beginning of a stressful season
filled with tough choices, as children can fall
behind in the months away from the classroom.
The summer gap begins when the school doors
close and many children lose access to the daily
routines, educational support and dependable
nutrition that help them thrive. For families
already juggling tight budgets and demanding
schedules, summer can quickly become a season
of added pressure and stress.
Summer learning loss - or the decline in academic
skills and learning during the school
break - can have a lasting impact on academic
outcomes. Studies show over the summer, students
can forget 20-30% of what they learned
during the school year. Without the right support,
students often start the new school year
playing catchup, which can cause them to fall
further behind.
These overlapping pressures fall especially hard
on millions of working families living paycheck
to paycheck, including ALICE (Asset Limited,
Income Constrained, Employed) households.
They earn above the federal poverty level but
still struggle to afford basic expenses like housing,
medicine, food and transportation.
Addressing the summer gap requires a community
wide approach and solutions that meet
hardworking families where they are. For example,
United Way Community Schools are community
based hubs that bring together schools,
social services agencies, volunteers and other
community partners to provide students and
families with essential support like tutoring,
food access and health and wellness resources.
Families also need easy, practical, daily tips and
local resources to make ends meet and help their
kids stay on track.
Learning that Fits Your Day
For busy families, low- or no-cost learning moments
that fit into packed schedules can make a
real difference. Many communities and nonprofits
offer dedicated programs to keep children active
and learning during the summer, such as:
• Summer art classes, creative writing workshops
and digital literacy tutoring at local libraries
departments
10 - 131 East Northport To Advertise call: 631-698-8400 All Island Media - July 9, 2026