Staten Island To Finally Receive Free Summer Meals Food Truck Pilot After Successful Community Advocacy – Will Be At Clove Lakes Park

ASSEMBLYMAN SAM PIROZZOLO & H.E.A.L.T.H FOR YOUTHS ANNOUNCE STATEN ISLAND TO RECEIVE FREE SUMMER MEALS FOOD TRUCK PILOT AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ADVOCACY EFFORT

Editor’s note: We covered the beginnings of this campaign last year, when it was reported that there was still no food truck for Staten Island’s kids during the summer, even though this program was in full swing in other boroughs across New York City, which were provided by the No Kid Hungry charity.  Islanders should also know that they can go to the Port Richmond Corps of the Salvation Army on Forest Avenue, Tuesday- Thursday 11:30-1 for free lunch.  

New York State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R-C/Staten Island) and Professor Heather Butts of H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths are proud to announce that, for the first time, Staten Island will be included in the NYC Department of Education’s Summer Meals Truck program.

From August 18 through August 29, 2025, the food truck will be stationed at Clove Lakes Park, located at Clove Road and Cheshire Place, and will provide free breakfast and lunch to all youth ages 18 and under. The truck will operate seven days a week—Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on weekends from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. No registration or identification is required to receive a meal.

This long-overdue development comes after Staten Island had been unfairly excluded from the Summer Meals Truck program for years, while similar services were provided to youth in nearly every other borough. That inequity is now being corrected, at least temporarily, thanks to a year-long advocacy effort led by Heather Butts, a public health expert, educator, and nonprofit leader who recognized the urgent need for summer food access on Staten Island. Assemblyman Pirozzolo joined the effort early, offering support and collaboration to ensure the voices of Staten Island families were heard.

“Making sure every child on Staten Island has access to healthy meals when school is out should never have been a question—it’s a basic responsibility,” said Assemblyman Pirozzolo. “Thanks to Heather’s relentless advocacy and the love of our community, that gap in services is a bit smaller. I witnessed Heather’s passion and persistence firsthand. She built the coalition, engaged the agencies, and never let up. I was proud to stand with her in support, and I thank the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services and NYC Parks for listening and taking action. This is about treating Staten Island’s children and families fairly and making sure our kids are never left behind again.”

Heather Butts is the co-founder of H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths, a nonprofit that works with more than 1,000 students annually on college readiness and youth development. She serves as a lecturer and faculty advisor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and as an adjunct professor at St. John’s University School of Law. Her background in health law, ethics, and education positioned her to lead a thoughtful, coordinated effort to correct this service gap.

“Ensuring that youth on Staten Island have the food they need to survive and thrive is imperative, and I am honored to be part of this effort through the Summer Food Truck,” said Heather Butts. “I am grateful that the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services and NYC Parks acted to make this service available to young people on Staten Island. A huge debt of gratitude to Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo for his steadfast dedication to this project. We would not have this Summer Food Truck in Staten Island if it were not for his tireless efforts. We look forward to the launch of this program on August 18, 2025.”

In addition to leadership from Butts and Pirozzolo, the success of this initiative was made possible through community support. More than 380 Staten Islanders signed a petition on Change.org advocating for the truck, and Borough President Vito Fossella’s Office played a key role in facilitating communication with city agencies. Additionally, reporting from Erik Bascombe of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com was instrumental in spreading awareness. This coalition of advocates, elected officials, and public servants demonstrated what can be achieved when Staten Island comes together with a unified voice.

The NYC Summer Meals Program is an essential public service that ensures young people have access to healthy, reliable meals even when school is out of session.

For more information about the NYC Summer Meals Program and to find additional locations citywide, visit schools.nyc.gov/summermeals or call 311.

Banner Image: Food truck graphic. Image Credit – Asm. Pirozzolo