1 in 4 children under the age of 5 in Ohio do not know where their next meal is coming from.

• 1 in 5 children under the age of 5 in Kentucky do not know where their next meal is coming from.

• In 2007, the USDA estimated 12.4 million children lived in food insecure households.

These statistics are very frightening because good nutrition is essential for children for cognitive development, school performance and behavior.

Children who live in food insecure households are more likely to have slower development which leads to problems with attention, learning and social interaction later in life.

How does the Freestore Foodbank help?

Currently, the Freestore Foodbank has 3 programs that ensure children in our region have enough food over the weekends, after school and in the summer months.

Power Pack

provides children with nutritious items like milk, cereal, peanut butter, canned tuna or ravioli, and granola bars over the weekend to ensure they are not hungry when they return to school on Monday. This year, we served over 1,200 children in 34 sites and we are working to expand the program to over 50 sites this school year.

Kids Café

serves over 8,400 hot meals per month at 15 after school sites to send children home with a full belly in anticipation that they may not eat until they return to school the next day.

Summer Food Service Program is a nationally funded program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children through the summer months when they do not have access to food through school. Meals are free to children under 18 or persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled.
What can you do?

• Volunteer to pack or deliver Power Pack bags – contact volunteerservices@freestorefoodbank.org for volunteer information
• Sponsor a child or a school