FEEDING OUR FUTURE

FEEDING CHILDREN IN NEED
United Way of Fairfield County (UWFC) is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income, and health. These are the building blocks for a good life—a quality education that leads to a good job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health with quality healthcare.

In 2015, after many conversations with community leaders it became clear that, more than ever, poverty and food insecurity is a growing problem for families with school-age children in Fairfield County. In the Lancaster City School District alone there are over 3,400 students utilizing the Free & Reduced Meal program comprising over 60% of the entire student population. Over 1,800 of these students are in the Lancaster City elementary schools. Teachers and school staff have regularly seen many students taking food home to eat during the evening or even over the weekend.

UWFC saw a unique opportunity to serve those in need and make sure our county's most vulnerable, its children, aren't without food over the weekend. UWFC has provided funding to multiple organizations to provide a weekend meal program to several schools in Fairfield County. Registered students received a package of food to take home on the last Friday of every month. The package includes a variety of choices to get the student through the weekend and usually weighs about eight pounds. It is our hope and expectation that these meals are helping young students grow and return to school, after the weekend, ready to learn.

If you would like more information on this program or would like to help in this opportunity to serve young students in Fairfield County, contact Andrea Spires at 740-653-0643 at United Way of Fairfield County.

Current Schools:

School: Amanda Clearcreek Primary
District: Amanda Clearcreek
Students Registered: 25
Partner: Lutheran Social Services
Volunteers: Amanda Clearcreek Primary Staff

School: Berne Union Elementary
District: Berne Union Local
Students Registered: 113 (Monthly)
Partner: Lutheran Social Services
Volunteers: St. Joseph's Church

School: Canal Winchester Schools (All)
District: Canal Winchester Schools
Students Registered: 100 (Weekly)
Partner: CW Human Services
Volunteers: CW Human Services

School: Gorsuch West Elementary
District: Lancaster City
Students Registered: 210 (Monthly)
Partner: Key to Giving
Volunteers: Key to Giving

School: Medill Elementary
District: Lancaster City
Students Registered: 110 (Monthly)
Partner: Lutheran Social Services
Volunteers: Community Christ Church

School: Mt. Pleasant Elementary
District: Lancaster City
Students Registered: 125 (Monthly)
Partner: New Hope Church
Volunteers: New Hope Church

School: Pickerington Schools (All)
District: Pickerington Local
Students Registered: 30 (Weekly)
Partners: PCMA Food Pantry & Violet Baptist Church
Volunteers: Violet Baptist Church

School: Tallmadge Elementary
District: Lancaster City
Students Registered: 108 (Monthly)
Partner: The Vineyard - AGAPE
Volunteers: Tallmadge Teachers

School: Tarhe Trails Elementary
District: Lancaster City
Students Registered: 55 (Monthly)
Partner: Lutheran Social Services
Volunteers: Tarhe Trails PTO