The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Food pantry program funding delivered
Representatives from 100 Women Who Care About Lorain County presented a $9,650 check to officials from Second Harvest of North Central Ohio and the Midview and Clearview school districts in support of a new school based mobile food pantry program.
The funding will create a monthly food pantry at Durling Middle School in Sheffield Township and Midview Middle School starting in September. The program is expected to help at least 100 families in each of these communities.
“I kind of think of it as a grocery store. So when the food is dropped off it’ll be dropped off here under the awning,” said Durling Middle School Principal Laura Manning. “So as families come through they can shop their way through and take what they’ll use and then they’ll head home. If it’s a nice day we’ll be outside. If not we’ll be in the gym lobby.”
Manning said as the program grows they will aim to have cooking demonstrations and bring in community partners and set up booths focusing on health and nutrition.
The pantry will be available to anyone living in the area as the program hopes to build new bridges between schools and the wider community.
The funding was provided by 100 Women Who Care About Lorain County, a local grassroots organization which has raised more than $313,000 for in support of Lorain County nonprofit initiatives since 2010. The member-driven organization votes on different initiatives to support.
“What really tugged on
the heartstrings of our members is that these kids come in hungry. They’re hungry on Monday, they’re hungry on Tuesday at school and over the weekend,” said cofounder Nancy Sullivan. “And if they can’t get the right nutrition they won’t be able to learn and excel at school.”
Second Harvest is focusing
on their Child Hunger Initiative aiming to feed children in a more holistic way in order to create food security for the entire family. In working with schools to provide families in a variety of avenues, the initiative hopes to dramatically increase the amount of food and meals families and their children will receive to address child
hunger in Lorain County.
Second Harvest has received funding from several supporters to fund the program for one year and the final piece of funding from 100 Women Who Care will ensure the program is fully funded for 12 months.
The pilot program for 2018 includes all three Lorain middle schools including General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, Longfellow Middle School and Southview Middle School.
“As we’re a pilot program it’s going to help that we’re in different districts. We’ve got Lorain, we’ve got Clearview, and we’ve got Midview, said Julie-Chase Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “So understanding that we need to grow the program, understanding the needs of the districts, we can serve those communities.”
“So it’s going to help us as we continue to grow. It is pilot and we’re all learning as we continue to grow. It’s going to be a great thing for the schools. We’re just so excited about being able to do this in securing the funding to do all five.”
Midview Middle School Principal John Brown stressed the chance to provide more services to their students and the community is a welcome opportunity and noted the generosity of educators in looking out for others.
“I think our numbers are important too. Clearview has 100 percent free and reduced lunch and Midview’s at 42 (percent) free and reduced lunch. At Clearview every kid receives two free meals and at Midview at least half of our kids get the same,” Brown said. “And it’s nice that we’re able to extend this to more than just families. Because it’s going to be anyone in the Midview community.”