From THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION-WOOD COUNTY
Nearly 43,000 meals were distributed in Wood, Lucas and Ottawa counties for the Ohio State University Extension’s Food Kindness event during Hunger Action Month in September.
In Wood County, 20 agencies were recognized as champions for their communities as they picked up the packaged meals at the Wood County Fairgrounds.
“These organizations are picking up 42,840 meals that were packed by over 1,000 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other volunteers on the Columbus campus on Thursday, September 11,” said Megan Arnold, acting co-director of operations for Ohio State University Extension and area leader for Wood and Lucas counties. “It’s incredible to see so many people and organizations coming together in support of our healthy, hunger-free community.”
Food insecurity affects as many as one in seven Ohioans, and in Wood County 14.2% are food insecure, she said.
Because addressing food security throughout the year takes an entire community, the project thanked the local agency champions for spreading kindness in their food community.
The local agencies that participated in the Hunger Action Month campaign included:
- BG Christian Food Bank
- Children’s Resource Center
- Christ’s Church in Bowling Green
- Educare Academy
- Falcon Food Pantry
- Great Lakes Community Action Project BG
- Great Lakes Community Action Project Rossford
- Job and Family Services Independent Living
- Kinship Support Group Wood County Educational Service Center
- La Conexión
- Little Wonders Child Care
- North Baltimore Food Pantry
- Otsego Food Pantry
- Perrysburg Heights Community Association
- St. Aloysius Church Food Pantry
- First United Methodist Church Food Pantry
- Wood County Committee on Aging Bowling Green
- Westhaven Apartments
- Women, Infants, and Children
- Wood County Health Department
The Ohio SNAP-Ed Mobile Education Nutrition Unit (MENU), which is used to meet SNAP-eligible participants at locations that are hard to reach and lack the necessary equipment to provide a quality teaching experience safely and effectively, participated in the event. The Ohio SNAP-Ed unit’s custom wrap promotes Ohio SNAP-Ed and Celebrate Your Plate to allow all potential participants to access skills and knowledge via the CelebrateYourPlate.org website.
Stops were also made in Lucas and Hancock counties for the food distribution event.
“Ohio State loves bringing together the Buckeye community and local Ohio communities to address food security through this kindness project,” Arnold said. “We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this happen, including The Ohio State University and their local OSU Extension teams, with SNAP-Ed educators who invited community organizations to be an instrumental part of today’s event.”
The Food Kindness event was sponsored by 9-11 day.org, AmeriCorps, Coca-Cola, The Ohio State University Office of Student Life, Administration and Planning, Athletics, Legal, Alumni Association, OUAB Grad-Prof., the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, and local OSU Extension teams, including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP community nutrition.
“As a land-grant university, Ohio State is grateful to be a consistent part of Ohio community priorities, such as food security,” Arnold said. “We hope this event and these meals prompt conversations about food security with friends, families, colleagues, and neighbors.”
