The New Jersey Library Association will award Partners for Health Foundation the 2018 Library
Service Award for their funding of health related programs at the Montclair Public Library. The
award will be presented at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference awards
ceremony on Thursday, May 31 from 6-8 pm at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.
In 2017, Partners for Health Foundation helped fund a number of health-related programs at the
Montclair Public Library, including a summer lunch program designed to feed children who did
not have access to the free and reduced lunch program due the summer break from school.
Around 15% of Montclair Public School students are eligible for the government sponsored
lunch program. Funding from Partners for Health Foundation provided summer library staff who
organized and served the lunches donated by Toni’s Kitchen. In the ten weeks the program was
active the Library served 2,383 lunches to children.
“The summer lunch program fills an important need, ensuring children from low-income
families can return to school in the fall ready to learn. We are proud to support this innovative
collaboration between the Montclair Public Library and Toni’s Kitchen,” said Pam Scott,
Executive Director, Partners for Health Foundation.
Thanks to continued funding from Partners for Health Foundation and the generosity of Toni’s
Kitchen the Library will again be serving lunches to children from June 25 to August 31, 2018.
“We are grateful to Partners for Health Foundation for their support of the Library and the
children of Montclair. We were honored to nominate them and recognize all they do to help
promote health and wellness in our community,” said Peter Coyl, Director of Montclair Public Library.
