Press Release

PRESS RELEASE: No Kid Hungry Ohio Promotes School Meal Programs during the pandemic and supports districts efforts to reach all students

Dec 16, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 16, 2020

Contact: Eleni Townes, ETowns@strength.org

No Kid Hungry Ohio Promotes School Meal Programs during the pandemic and supports districts efforts to reach all students

Washington, DC: As part of No Kid Hungry’s continuing effort to ensure all children in Ohio remain nourished and healthy, the campaign announced today an additional $849,327 in grants to 29 school districts to support school meal programs this semester.  

 

“School meals are available to students across Ohio no matter if they are learning remotely or participating in a hybrid model,” says Eleni Towns, associate director for the No Kid Hungry campaign. “We at No Kid Hungry are in awe of the phenomenal work of school nutrition staff. They have been at the front lines of this pandemic, working creatively and diligently to reach all of their students by offering curb-side pickup meals, delivering meals to bus stops or community centers, collaborating with community groups to offer additional family food boxes, and more.”  

 

Below are the most recent recipients of the 2020 NKH Grants from across the state of Ohio, with funds totaling over $1.2 million this year. Take a look at the map below to learn more information about the grantees in Ohio.

  • Sandusky City Schools 

  • Belpre City Schools 

  • Lorain City School District 

  • Northridge Local Schools 

  • Oberlin City Schools 

  • Niles City Schools 

  • Edison Local Schools (formerly Berlin-Milan) 

  • Caldwell Exempted Village Schools 

  • Cleveland Heights University Heights School District 

  • Hillsboro City Schools 

  • KIPP Columbus 

  • St. Clairsville Richland City Schools 

  • Cincinnati Public Schools 

  • Northwest Local School District 

  • Boardman Local School 

  • Lima City Schools 

  • Circleville City Schools 

  • Elyria City Schools 

  • Bridgeport Exempted Village School District 

  • Elida Local Schools 

  • Youngstown City Schools 

  • Saint Martin de Porres High School Southern Local 

  • Defiance City School 

  • River Valley Local Schools 

  • Ashtabula Area City Schools 

  • Horizon Science Academy of Lorain 

  • Mt. Healthy City School District 

  • Cleveland Metropolitan School District 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent Household Pulse Survey, nearly 12 million parents and caregivers across our nation said that their children didn’t have enough to eat because their families couldn’t afford it. Nearly 481,000 of those are right here in Ohio. 

 

Despite the extraordinary need, many children are missing out on school meals. Families can text FOOD or COMIDA to 877 877 to learn more about meal site options available near them and should reach out to their local school district for information on how to collect school meals.