Free Breakfast Program For Students Kicks Off At Hamptons Eatery

EAST HAMPTON, NY — It may still be cold on the East End, but hearts were warm at Babette's in East Hampton Monday, where Jake Ruehl kicked off a new program to ensure that no young middle school student ever goes hungry.

Ruehl turned to online fundraising recently to garner funds for the project.

The first day went well, Ruehl said; East Hampton middle school students can come to Babette's between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. every Monday and "eat all they wish. Tasty, healthy food," he said. "This isn't just helping young students do well in school; it is helping the community come together under one shared goal.

His team, Juan Yanez and Ben Alvarez, are onboard to help; Juan he said, felt "mad good" about Monday's breakfast, which included whole grain pancakes, French toast, fruit and eggs.

Those who want to help clean up or serve can call Babette's at (631) 329-5377. Donations are now being accepted directly by sending them to Babette's at 66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937.

Discussing his idea for the program, Ruehl said, "Last year I attended a panel of original Black Panther Party members. They were recalling some of their most effective accomplishments back in the 1970s. I left with an understanding of how important their breakfast program was in particular, and how impactful it could be today."

The program, Ruehl said, was developed in response to statistics released indicating that if a young student did not eat a fully nutritional breakfast, "he or she would be 60 to 70% less likely to pass their classes than those who did. After the first programs were set up, not only did graduation rates go up but tardiness decreased, and the number of students who repeated grades went down. Most importantly, however, it brought together communities of mixed political and religious beliefs under one goal, which was to feed any young student breakfast who asked for it."

In the towns and villages in the Hamptons, Ruehl said, "there is of course legendary wealth, but we must remember that there are also significant populations of struggling, hardworking families: some the sons and daughters of generations of fishermen and farmers, some drawn from afar with the prospects of jobs and a better life for their children, some the descendants of our indigenous peoples. The aim of the breakfast program is to give nourishment and support to these and all of our communities."

All donations will go toward providing free breakfast for kids at the East Hampton middle school through Babette's on Newtown Lane, Ruehl said.

The goal is to work with professional chefs to ensure a healthy and tasty breakfast, he said.

"It is my hope that the program will eventually expand from 2 to 5 days a week, and eventually be implemented in all our public grade schools and middle schools on the East End," he said.

Photos courtesy Jake Ruehl.