With kids out of school for the summer, two Lima-area organizations are working to ensure no child goes hungry during the break.
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One Lima organization is making sure that no one in the community is going hungry. On Friday, the Restoration House of Lima held a community food giveaway. The giveaway was open to anyone in the public who needs food assistance.
November 19, 2024, Press Release from Farm Credit Mid-America: Ohio (November 19, 2024) – Presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st, Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is a friendly competition that empowers young Ohio residents to combat hunger. This summer marked the fourth year of the program. 66 county fairs across the state collected a record-breaking 286,339 pounds of food for local food banks. “This year, we were able to increase the total amount raised by over 25% while reaching a record amount of food raised,” said Melanie Strait-Bok, senior vice president of agricultural lending for Farm Credit Mid-America in Ohio. "With more than a million Ohioans facing food insecurity, it has been inspiring to see our communities come together in this way.”
The USDA announces 1 billion dollars to help with food insecurity across the country. That money will be divided up nationwide and used to support places like the West Ohio Food Bank as they wait for the federal government to pass the farm bill to continue their funding. Half of the money will go to programs that work with farmers, growers, and producers for nutritional food options... The other half of the money will be used for additional food purchases by food banks from retailers and food manufacturers, which have been in decline.
School lunches help kids with food insecurities during the week, but who helps fill in the gaps when they're out of school? That's where the Children's Hunger Alliance steps up to offer food boxes to the kids to help make sure they don't go hungry. Superior Credit Union employees were helping them out by boxing up food that could be passed out to students in the Lima area. They also donated $6,000 to the Children's Hunger Alliance to help cover the cost of the food that they boxed up, providing around 2,400 meals.
One in four children in the Lima area aren't getting enough food, and a new partnership is working to change that. The Lima Memorial Foundation's Emerging Philanthropists and the Children's Hunger Alliance are raising awareness of the food insecurities facing the children of our community. Thursday was the kick-off of their partnership, and people in attendance were asked to donate what they would spend on a meal to support the Children's Hunger Alliance to provide healthy food.
August 13, 2024, Press Release from Superior Credit Union: LIMA, OH—Superior Credit Union and its staff are pleased to announce that they have partnered with Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) to provide meals to area children for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. On Wednesday, August 21, 24 Superior staff members will participate in packing donated meals.
More money, we just need more money. That was the message to United States Congressman Jim Jordan at the West Ohio Food Bank on Monday. Local and state food bank representatives got the congressman's ear as they gave him a tour of the facility. There is food on the shelves but more is needed to feed the increasing number of people facing food insecurity.
Van Wert Hospital is taking action against hunger in their community. The first of two food drives this summer took place at Trinity Friends Church on Tuesday afternoon. Volunteers from Ohio Health Van Wert Hospital, United Way, and West Ohio Food Bank came out to distribute both food and household items to those in need. The three organizations came together to combat the serious issue of food insecurity. Over 8 tons of food were distributed to more than 200 families in the county in just two hours.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are an essential component to meet the nutritional and food security needs of children, and the Lima City Schools are helping to meet those needs this summer. The school, in partnership with the Children's Hunger Alliance, is passing out produce boxes to families that have signed up for the service. Each Thursday, during the school's free Summer Lunch Program, a box of fresh fruits and vegetables makes its way home with the families.