Council Funds Meal Sites for Columbus Children
Effort will help Children's Hunger Alliance meet a critical need
Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown helps deliver boxed food to a Columbus City School building in 2019.
[COLUMBUS, OH] On Monday, April 20, 2020, Council passed ordinance 0627-2020 to enter into a $100,000 grant agreement with Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) in support of open summer meal sites for Columbus children.
These sites are places where any child can receive a nutritious meal over the summer without enrollment requirements. Proper nutrition is essential for children to continue their growth and development during the school year and over the summer. During the COVID-19 health crisis, it is especially important to provide options for children and their families to be able to access healthy meals.
“This pandemic has reinforced the importance of providing proper nutrition for kids when they aren’t able to access meals through school,” said President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown. “As the schools deal with the closure of buildings through the rest of the school year, I am grateful for the partnership of CHA to ensure children are receiving the meals they need over the summer.”
The extended partnership with CHA means that Columbus children can pick up food at various locations across the city, yet to be finalized. Based on the current circumstances, site locations are still being finalized, with a focus by CHA on feeding children in areas that are not already being served.
Judy Mobley, President and CEO of CHA, said, “We appreciate the financial support from the Columbus City Council for this critical work feeding children. Under normal circumstances, only 10 percent of children that qualify for free or reduced-price school meals have access to a summer meal site. During the COVID-19 crisis, the need is greater than ever. This summer meal program will allow us to feed more children especially focused on those residing in the most impoverished areas of our city.”
“This pandemic is illustrating the need for all of us to lift up our family, friends and neighbors, and to re-examine how we can work more diligently in the future to make the successes in our community more accessible for all,” said Brown.
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About Children’s Hunger Alliance
Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. Through their work, Children’s Hunger Alliance provides healthy meals and snacks to food-insecure children, advocates for legislation to improve the welfare of Ohio’s youngest citizens, and teaches nutrition and physical education to those they serve. Visit childrenshungeralliance.org for additional information.
Contact: Rick Jardiolin, Director of Marketing and Communications, Children’s Hunger Alliance
614-643-8010 | [email protected]