Weekend without Hunger begins food distribution

"Weekends without Hunger…Feeding our Future" began its weekend food distribution recently, marking its eighth year of operation in our Norwalk schools. Committee members are in the process of creating a community fundraising campaign to "feed a child" for $100 per year to support this initiative. "We believe this concept will resonate with the public, and provide a credible and achievable source of funding from both private individuals and area businesses," said Judy Sommers, program coordinator. "A committee of dedicated community members, initially organized by former Norwalk City Schools Superintendent Virginia Poling, found in its research that over 48 percent of Norwalk students in grades K through 12 continue to qualify for free and reduced fee meals based upon federal guidelines. The committee plans to continue to address the hunger needs of eligible kindergarten through sixth grade students in both the Norwalk Catholic and City Schools during the 2020-21 school year. This year, since some of the children are learning remotely because of the pandemic, our committee is also making sure that financially-eligible students receive food for the weekends." Parents of elementary students who are currently on the free or reduced fee meal program received a letter explaining the Weekends without Hunger program. Parents must sign the form and return it to their child's school in order for their child to qualify to receive the food each week. A select group of dedicated volunteers distribute the bags of food which go out to the students. All of the food items are purchased through Second Harvest Food Bank. The cost to provide 12 items of healthy food for each child for the weekends during the school year has risen to slightly more than $100 per child. The money donated for this eighth year of operation goes entirely to pay for the food and transportation from Second Harvest. All other costs of this program have been in-kind donations. The Salvation Army provides a similar program during the summer months, and Weekends without Hunger continues to seek to bridge the two programs to ensure childhood hunger is addressed year-round in our community. "As a non-profit organization Fisher-Titus Foundation serves as a fiscal agent for the program. They believe this program addresses a true community need as identified in the Huron County Community Health Assessment. They fully support the mission of the "Weekends without Hunger…Feeding our Future" initiative which is to ensure that Norwalk's elementary students who qualify for free or reduced fee meals are fed on the weekends throughout the school year," Sommers said. For further information about Weekends without Hunger, contact Judy Sommers at csommers1@neo.rr.com or Reta Stark at jrstark@neo.rr.com. Community members wishing to make a donation should make checks payable to Weekends without Hunger, Box 914, Norwalk, Ohio or an on-line donation can be made by using this site: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/givetowwh.