Child Hunger Initiatives

Second Harvest aims to feed children in a more holistic way to create food security for the entire family through our School Pantry Program model. This program is designed to alleviate child hunger through the provision of food to children, their families, and the immediate school community. School Pantry Programs are located at, or adjacent to school properties and are intended to provide a more readily accessible source of food assistance to low-income students.

This year we are rallying around the cause of child hunger and rather than just an event, it is a season. In our area, one in five children struggles with hunger. That is about 17,000 kids. We believe we have a great opportunity to raise awareness and funds to make a difference.

We invite you to join with us in breaking the cycle of hunger in North Central Ohio, focusing on the specific issue of child hunger. This fall we are asking our friends and supporters to be HUNGER HEROES!

When local schools take a break for the summer, sadly, hunger does not take a break. Those children who have relied on school feeding programs during the school year are the most at risk. To address this issue, Second Harvest, along with several of our charity partners, coordinates the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

A program of Feeding America, the mission of the BackPack Program™ is to help alleviate child hunger by addressing the lack of food resources on weekends and holidays for children who are at-risk for hunger by providing backpacks stocked with groceries for families to prepare at home.

Kids Cafe programs provide free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of existing community locations where children congregate such as Boys and Girls Clubs, churches or public schools. some Kids Cafe programs also offer a safe place, where under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in other activities.