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Southeast Ohio Foodbank’s summer meal program saw a five-fold increase in children served

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Southeast Ohio Foodbank served more than 136,000 meals to children while school was out this summer.

Boxes with "SE OHIO FOODBANK" written on them are stacked high as a volunteer stacks more in the background.
A volunteer at the Southeast Ohio Foodbank arranges boxes for the Commodity Supplemental Nutrition Program. [Theo Peck-Suzuki | WOUB/Report for America]
This is more than a five-fold increase compared with last summer. This growth was fueled by the addition of meals families could pick up and take home in addition to the traditional eat-in programs at community libraries.

In Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Morgan and Perry counties, families could pick up weekly meal packs containing seven lunches and seven breakfasts. This option meant children had access to food even if they couldn’t attend a daily program, giving parents peace of mind and helping them better manage summer schedules.

Meanwhile, local libraries in Chauncey, Coolville, Glouster, Nelsonville, Logan and Laurelville continued to host traditional lunch gatherings where children ate together. These eat-in sites became community hubs, where kids not only received a nutritious meal but also enjoyed the chance to socialize, learn and participate in library programming.

As one librarian put it, “It’s a staple event in the summer here at the library. The kids come and enjoy hanging out together, and parents are so grateful because otherwise they aren’t sure how they’d get through the summer feeding their kids.”

Across the region, the result was the same: more children nourished, more families supported and more communities strengthened by the power of food, according to Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, which oversees the food bank.

“This program provided much-needed nutrition and peace of mind for families,” said Alicia Miklos, director at the food bank. “We are proud that through innovation and partnership, we were able to serve more kids than ever before.”

The summer meals program was made possible in part through the support of No Kid Hungry, whose investment helps local partners like the food bank expand access to meals and fight childhood hunger across rural communities.