LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Food insecurity has been identified as a health priority for some local students, prompting three organizations to collaborate on a solution.
Lima City Schools, Mercy Health–St. Rita’s, and the Children’s Hunger Alliance have partnered to provide weekend food packs for 240 students at Freedom Elementary School. Each pack contains six ready-to-eat meals that meet nutritional guidelines, ensuring students have access to food over the weekend.
"There are two USDA programs that normally help subsidize what we do with our after-school work, our summer work, but weekend meals is not covered under either those programs, so we rely heavily on corporate, private, and foundation support to make sure that kids on the weekend have food to eat," said Jamie Harter, director of development for Children's Hunger Alliance.
"We're thankful to have good partners like the Children's Hunger Alliance Lima City Schools as well, and we've really been successful with the program that we started a couple of years ago up in Leipsic. We knew that the need was pretty drastic here in Lima, and so that's kind of the need for investing here within our community," said Tyler Smith, director of community health at Mercy Health-St. Rita's.
"It's a peace of mind for us knowing that these kids will be fed over the weekend. It's a relief for parents with rising food costs, and it's also a peace of mind for the children to know that when they're home that they're going to have some food to eat. That helps with their health and well-being. It helps with mental health, and hopefully, it'll help with attendance and keep them on track with their grades," said Jill Ackerman, superintendent of Lima City Schools.
Mercy Health–St. Rita’s contributed $50,000 to support the weekend meal pack program.
Mercy Health–St. Rita’s contributed $50,000 to support the weekend meal pack program, which launched at Freedom Elementary after the winter break. Since then, 1,440 meals have been distributed.
Organizers hope the initiative will help alleviate food insecurity and support students’ well-being outside the classroom.
