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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Spread the Word: Help is Out There for Ohio's Hungry Children

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008   

Columbus, OH - Ohio's schoolchildren aren't the only ones getting back to work this fall. Groups fighting hunger are already putting out the word about next year's Summer Food Program. That's because only about one out of 10 eligible children used the program this summer, according to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.

The low participation isn't due to a lack of need, however. Foodbank spokeswoman Lisa Hamler-Fugitt says the number of kids showing up at food pantries and soup kitchens has skyrocketed.

"It is at an all-time record high, tied directly to the economy - rising food and fuel costs, as well as rising unemployment. This summer, one out of every three people served in a soup kitchen was a child."

Outreach is the key, Hamler-Fugitt says. Advocates are looking for more ways to spread the word to organizations who help these children to ensure that the state's investment in the program goes where it is needed the most. So the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks already is working on its summer 2009 program, Hamler-Fugitt explains - to prevent this from happening again.

"We are reaching out to all public and private not-for-profit and faith-based organizations, to make sure they know about the importance of the summer food program so they can prepare adequately for next year."

Hamler-Fugitt estimates that Ohio is missing out on about $9 million of taxpayer-funded federal aid available to help feed children through the summer food program. The funds are allocated based on numbers of children who get meals from the program.



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