LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Local organizations and high school students came together on Thursday to demonstrate the realities of hunger faced by many in our area.
The West Ohio Food Bank partnered with the Lima Memorial Emerging Philanthropists and culinary students from Lima Senior High School to educate the public about food insecurity and how important having access to enough quality food is to someone's overall health.
The students used what they learned from a guest lecture given by Lima Memorial Health System to prepare and serve a meal based on what someone struggling financially may be limited to using.
"A lot of families actually struggle with getting to grocery stores or stores in general to get the things they need and to survive off of. We tried to make it like healthy but fulfilling at the same time, but I know it's hard to find healthy foods while you're on a budget," explained senior Shaniyah Webb of Lima Senior's culinary program.
Lima Memorial emphasized the importance of working with the food bank to support patients once they leave the hospital.
"Lima Memorial's goal is to treat people and heal them and food has such an impact on your health. So it's an important partnership with West Ohio Food Bank to make sure people have access to the food that can keep them healthy," said Ann Welly, a member of Lima Memorial Emerging Philanthropists.
"We're hopeful that people will understand we're here, there's a lot more individuals, they're working poor, they're living paycheck to paycheck and services like ours are what is needed so they can just put food on their tables," added West Ohio Food Bank CEO, Tommie Harner.
A table at the event displayed just how much more food a $20 donation to the food bank can provide for families in need compared to how far that $20 would go at a typical grocery store.
