CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Summer arrived officially this week, bringing with it new challenges for programs scrambling to make sure low-income kids can still get nutritious food while they're out of school.
Some Cleveland meal sites put out a call for volunteers, while the Cleveland Foodbank announced a new fundraising appeal to feed rising numbers of children in need. Experts say that kids who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school often go hungry when classes end.
"We know a large number of children are not eating as well in the summer as they did in the school year, and that's pretty tragic," said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who has crusaded for years to ramp up summer feeding programs for low-income children.
Find the summer meals program nearest you
Last year, a Cleveland Foodbank poll revealed that one-third of kids at its summer feeding programs said the Foodbank meal was the only one they ate daily.
"We knew we had to do more, we had to expand our program as quickly as we could," said Foodbank Vice President Kristin Warzocha.
Brown said that while the number of Cuyahoga County summer feeding programs has risen in response to increased demand, staffing them adequately and spreading the word that the meals are available remain huge problems.
Cuyahoga County now has 281 summer feeding sites, up from 254 in 2009, and more are expected. But Brown said he's concerned that kids will go hungry anyway.
Last year, 607,744 Ohio students participated in the free and reduced-price meals program at school, but only 58,801 -- less than 10 percent -- took advantage of federally-funded summer meals last year, he said, citing a Food Research and Action Center survey.
On Tuesday, leaders of the Cleveland Foodbank and Community West Foundation dished up sloppy Joes at a lunch site at the West Side Boys & Girls Club on Trowbridge Avenue, then held a quick news conference to explain why the Foodbank is launching a summer fundraising campaign on the heels of its successful 2011 Harvest for Hunger appeal.
Responding to growing demand, the Foodbank this year upped its number of summer sites from 24 to 32. Federal funds help cover expenses at the sites, but the Foodbank needs extra dollars to serve families by other methods, including food pantries and free distributions of fresh fruit and vegetables in low-income neighborhoods, Warzocha said.
"It's very important for the entire community to pitch in," said Dr. Ted Castele, spokesman for the Community West Foundation, which on Tuesday offered to match every dollar donated to the Foodbank up to $100,000. Other supporters then made the same offer, meaning that every dollar donated to the Foodbank until Sept. 30 will be matched until a total of $400,000 is raised.
Some nonprofits and faith-based groups have stepped in to help feed the hungry this summer.
Mt. Calvary III Deliverance Outreach Ministries International Inc. is one such newcomer. Bishop Elaine Williams said she still needs volunteers to help give out food between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 10 distribution sites on Cleveland's East and West sides. (Those interested can send an email to mc3domii@msn.com)
Brown said many summer meals are provided at sites with constructive youth activities. "What we hope comes out of this is that more kids are exposed to libraries and books and learning opportunities in the summer," he said.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Summer arrived officially this week, bringing with it new challenges for programs scrambling to make sure low-income kids can still get nutritious food while they're out of school.

Some Cleveland meal sites put out a call for volunteers, while the Cleveland Foodbank announced a new fundraising appeal to feed rising numbers of children in need. Experts say that kids who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school often go hungry when classes end.

"We know a large number of children are not eating as well in the summer as they did in the school year, and that's pretty tragic," said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who has crusaded for years to ramp up summer feeding programs for low-income children.

Find the summer meals program nearest you

Last year, a Cleveland Foodbank poll revealed that one-third of kids at its summer feeding programs said the Foodbank meal was the only one they ate daily.

"We knew we had to do more, we had to expand our program as quickly as we could," said Foodbank Vice President Kristin Warzocha.

Brown said that while the number of Cuyahoga County summer feeding programs has risen in response to increased demand, staffing them adequately and spreading the word that the meals are available remain huge problems.

Cuyahoga County now has 281 summer feeding sites, up from 254 in 2009, and more are expected. But Brown said he's concerned that kids will go hungry anyway.

Last year, 607,744 Ohio students participated in the free and reduced-price meals program at school, but only 58,801 -- less than 10 percent -- took advantage of federally-funded summer meals last year, he said, citing a Food Research and Action Center survey.

On Tuesday, leaders of the Cleveland Foodbank and Community West Foundation dished up sloppy Joes at a lunch site at the West Side Boys & Girls Club on Trowbridge Avenue, then held a quick news conference to explain why the Foodbank is launching a summer fundraising campaign on the heels of its successful 2011 Harvest for Hunger appeal.

Responding to growing demand, the Foodbank this year upped its number of summer sites from 24 to 32. Federal funds help cover expenses at the sites, but the Foodbank needs extra dollars to serve families by other methods, including food pantries and free distributions of fresh fruit and vegetables in low-income neighborhoods, Warzocha said.

"It's very important for the entire community to pitch in," said Dr. Ted Castele, spokesman for the Community West Foundation, which on Tuesday offered to match every dollar donated to the Foodbank up to $100,000. Other supporters then made the same offer, meaning that every dollar donated to the Foodbank until Sept. 30 will be matched until a total of $400,000 is raised.

Some nonprofits and faith-based groups have stepped in to help feed the hungry this summer.

Mt. Calvary III Deliverance Outreach Ministries International Inc. is one such newcomer. Bishop Elaine Williams said she still needs volunteers to help give out food between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 10 distribution sites on Cleveland's East and West sides. (Those interested can send an email to mc3domii@msn.com)

Brown said many summer meals are provided at sites with constructive youth activities. "What we hope comes out of this is that more kids are exposed to libraries and books and learning opportunities in the summer," he said.


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