In the heart of Portsmouth, Ohio, the Scioto County Community Action Organization (CAO) busies itself with an essential mission: feeding the community’s children. The bustling activity was centered around a vibrant, lifeline-on-wheels—a van rented with the support of a grant from No Kid Hungry. This van had become a vital tool for the organization, helping them transport meals to 21 different sites across the county, ensuring no child goes hungry during the summer months.
Leading this effort was Luanne Valentine, a dedicated member of the CAO for over 30 years. Luanne had seen the organization evolve and grow, and she had become a cornerstone of its operations, particularly the summer meals program. This initiative is one of many run by the CAO, which also includes afterschool meals and workforce development programs among many others.
The CAO’s reach extends across the 600-square-mile county, serving summer meals at 21 different locations. Luanne explained that the shift towards non-congregate sites had been a game-changer. Every week, families at non-congregate sites can pick up seven days’ worth of meals. The meals are a mix of cold, frozen, and shelf-stable items, complemented by bulk milk. The variety ensures that the children receive nutritious and satisfying meals during the summer months while school is out. They’ve seen an incredible increase in demand, Luanne explained, as they are now serving about 600 kids a week with meals. This summer, they’ve also had the opportunity to distribute donated produce to families served through their summer meals program. This has been a huge draw for families and they are up to distributing 4-5 pallets of fresh fruits and vegetables across the county each week.
One of the key factors in the program’s success was the strong relationship the CAO had built with the local housing authority and school district partners. Many of the meal distribution sites are at buildings managed by the housing authority, which had been a steadfast partner over the years. The local school districts, which mainly offer meals to their summer school programs, also promote their summer meals program, recognizing the CAO’s role in filling the gap for summer meals throughout the county.
The logistics of reaching all corners of the county are challenging, but the CAO understands the opportunity and importance of ensuring kids are fed. They have a dedicated team, including two cooks, a truck driver, and about 12 youths hired through their workforce development program, which Luanne also manages.
As the van makes its rounds each day of the week, stopping at site after site, the scenes are always filled with community and care. Families greet the team with smiles and appreciation, and it’s clear that the CAO’s summer meals program is more than just a distribution of food—it was a glimmer of light, nourishment, and community spirit.