COLUMBUS, Ohio – Some of Ohio's most vulnerable children have not had empty bellies this summer, as a result of some innovative programs.

The federally-funded Summer Food Service Program is unable to meet the needs of all children who receive free and reduced-priced meals during the school year. So, programs funded through Gov. John Kasich's office are trying to fill the gap this year.

Susan Rogers, who co-directs the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, says its meal delivery program makes sure food gets to kids in rural areas who may be unable to travel to a summer food site.

"For many of these families, it's really life-sustaining," says Rogers. "We actually had one family on Monday really glad to see that box come, because they had run out of food in their home and had not had anything since Sunday at lunchtime to eat."

The Summer Weekend Meals Program provides additional food to children in summer food programs to take home for weekends, and Mobile Farmers Markets are providing fresh produce to food service sites. It's estimated that in Ohio this summer, 600,000 weekend meals were provided to children, 220,000 meals were delivered to homes, and more than 1.25 million pounds of fresh produce were distributed.

Rogers calls the programs a blessing for many Ohio families.

"A lot of people don't realize just how many folks are having it tough and are skimping on meals," she says. "The parents are skimping on food for themselves so that their children can have it."

A recent Food Research and Action Center report found just one in ten eligible children in Ohio accesses summer meals. Carol Whitmer, food program manager for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, says it is more proof of the growing need to expand summer food services.

"These programs are great, but there's still work that needs to be done," Whitmer says. "We can always use more funding to carry these programs out, so we can reach every child that would qualify for one of these programs and needs food over the summertime."

Whitmer says hunger-fighting groups will work over the next year to further expand options. She hopes the programs can eventually be made permanent, with funding through the state or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.




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Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT.

Dollars from the program will go even farther to purchase produce, through the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The Oregon Legislature approved the state's participation in the Summer EBT program, making nearly 300,000 children eligible to receive $40 for food each month over the summer.

Mason Durfee, Double Up Food Bucks organizer with Oregon Food Bank, said the additional benefits can be used for the Double Up program.

"Essentially, that increases their total monthly budget that they have," said Durfee, "but also what's really cool about Summer EBT is any of the Summer EBT benefits can also be used to earn Double Up, because they're just being treated as additional SNAP dollars on someone's card."

The Double Up Food Bucks program allows participants with benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy fresh produce and have the dollars they spend matched - essentially doubling their purchasing power.

Double Up Food Bucks coordinator with Oregon Food Bank, Jas Eppesheimer, said the program is available at a variety of venues across the state.

"The benefits at participating farmers markets are amazing, grocery stores and CSA - Community Supported Agriculture - farms," said Eppesheimer. "So, shoppers can bring home just a lot more fresh produce."

The program matches up to $20 of purchases per day at participating farmers markets. At participating grocery stores, up to $20 spent on fruits and vegetables can be redeemed for produce on the next visit.

The program can also go toward CSA memberships. Oregonians can find participating organizations at doubleuporegon.org.

As COVID-era benefits near expiration, a recent Child Wellness Summit brought together nonprofits to tackle urgent child well-being and food-insecurity issues.

Missouri families grappling with inflation and high living costs are facing increased challenges, particularly in providing food, utilities and health care for children.

Jocelyn Fundoukos, director of communications for Operation Food Search, said that Missouri's child poverty rate doubled in 2022, leaving one in six children at risk of hunger. She said during the pandemic, her group was able to increase the amount of meals they served significantly. Unlike other states, Missouri has chosen not to retain certain pandemic benefits, such as flexible summer-meal distribution methods.

"It meant that we could serve more meals in a drive-through fashion. Now, it has returned to kids being required to eat the meals on site. So that obviously makes it trickier to get the food to as many kids as we could," she explained.

Data from Missouri Kids Count show last year, 33% of children in St. Louis lived in poverty, and 26% experienced food insecurity, meaning their families had no access to sufficient or quality food.

Fundoukos said getting enough healthy food can also be challenging because of such factors as "food deserts" in rural areas, lack of transportation, and others that prevent families from reaching available resources. She said it's important to understand that parts of the state may not have a local grocer, but perhaps just a convenience store with limited perishable items such as fresh produce.

"Kids may be getting something to put in their stomachs to sort of stave off the extreme hunger, but they're not getting the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive or to even be able to focus in school or sit still and pay attention," she continued.

She said summit participants emphasized the need for greater collaboration across different sectors to address complex issues holistically. St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, United 4 Children and Missouri Kids Win all participated in the dialogue, which was facilitated by Focus St. Louis.


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Volunteering is a "leap of faith" - donating time and in-kind support to help others who are struggling - but research shows people who pitch in, improve their own mental and physical health.

Barbara Guenther is the manager of volunteer programs for New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank.

She said volunteers aren't always sure what they're getting into, but typically describe the experience as very rewarding.

While volunteer hours dipped during COVID, she said more folks have been returning - with upwards of 175 volunteers helping out every week, or at least once a month on a regular basis.

"For the last two years at least, coming out of the pandemic, our volunteers have donated more than 50,000 hours a year," said Guenther, "and I'm anticipating at the end of our fiscal year, probably close to 60,000."

She said those hours equate to about 25 full time employees. What's more, she says the monetary value of the volunteer time performed for Roadrunner is estimated at $1.4 million.

April is "National Volunteer Month," with mental health experts noting that volunteering can improve physical and mental health, provide purpose, teach new skills and nurture relationships.

Guenther said Roadrunner Food Bank attracts volunteers from all walks of life - corporate, civic and schools groups - and those who want to connect to the group's mission of getting food into the hands of hungry people, without barriers.

"What I find interesting," said Guenther, "is that a lot of times people will come as part of a group and that's their first contact with us and they say, 'Oh hey, this kind-of got me in the door but I want to come do this as an individual.'"

She said one way people volunteer is at Roadrunner's Albuquerque warehouse - typically working two hour shifts, sorting produce and dry and canned goods.

Those goods are later delivered statewide by trucks to food pantries, senior centers, low-income housing locations, group homes, shelters, school partners, health clinics, and other locations.