Mary Nelson Exits School Food Program Post-NY Inspection: 'No Compassion Shown'

A Syracuse Community Leader Faces Challenges in Maintaining Summer Feeding Program

Mary Nelson, a long-time community activist in Syracuse, New York, has faced a significant setback after her youth center was removed from the state’s summer food program. The decision came following a state inspection that found the center violating specific guidelines. Nelson, who has been feeding 50 to 60 low-income children daily, now finds herself in a difficult position as she works to keep the program running without the support of the school district.

The main issue cited by the state inspector was the use of to-go bags for meals. According to Nelson, this was a response to the failure of the center’s air conditioning system earlier this month. She explained that the heat made it impractical for children to walk through the building twice a day—once for breakfast and again for lunch. Instead, she opted for a more convenient solution: providing meals in to-go bags. However, this practice was deemed against the rules by the state inspector.

Nelson’s center offers more than just meals. It serves as a refuge for local youth, featuring amenities such as a barber shop and game room. In addition to feeding children, she is also known for organizing an annual backpack giveaway each August, which helps students prepare for the school year.

Despite the challenges, Nelson remains determined to continue feeding the children at her center. She plans to rely on the community’s support and donations to cover the costs. For over a decade, she has received food deliveries through the school district’s summer feeding program, which is regulated by the state Department of Education. However, this support was recently halted after a state audit identified several violations.

According to Amanda Malinowski, a school district spokeswoman, the audit revealed multiple issues, including the fact that children were receiving both breakfast and lunch at the same time. While Nelson claimed this was done to avoid exposing kids to extreme heat, the district emphasized that the state has strict requirements for feeding sites.

Malinowski noted that the district had offered Nelson a chance to keep receiving food if she allowed a trained district worker to be on-site. However, Nelson refused, citing her desire to maintain the current format of meal distribution. She also wanted to continue supplementing meals with food from her center’s food pantry, which could potentially lead to further violations.

Nelson’s air conditioning system has been problematic since the start of the summer feeding program in early July. Initially, she purchased a portable unit, but it failed to work properly when connected to the ventilation system. A professional was hired to fix the issue, and the system worked for a short period before breaking down again. As temperatures soared into the 90s, Nelson returned to the to-go model, which led to the school district halting deliveries.

Despite the recent difficulties, Nelson remains confident that the community will step up to help. “People are coming up to help,” she said. “I always come through. We don’t miss a beat.” She even mentioned the possibility of purchasing additional supplies from BJ’s to replace the food that the school district no longer provides.

As for the air conditioning, Nelson said her contractor is working to get the system back online. She hopes to have cool air blowing again by the weekend.

Nelson’s story highlights the challenges faced by community leaders who strive to provide essential services despite bureaucratic hurdles. Her dedication to the children and the community continues to shine through, even in the face of adversity.