Octavia’s Leading With Heart
Since 2017, Octavia has been a vital part of Freestore Foodbank’s world and is currently serving as the Community Partnership Manager for both the Kids Cafe and Summer Feeding programs.
Her focus is on running effective programs, but the real drive comes from giving back to her community. One of her fondest memories is from working at the Autumn Woods Apartments, where her work left a lasting mark on the city by providing food access.
“We have done the backpack event for the last five years, and as a result of our efforts from that, August 5 is now proclaimed to be Kids Cafe Day in the city of Cincinnati,” she shares with a smile.
As we approach the warmer months, many local families find their groceries don’t stretch to fill the nutritional gap.
Octavia says, “The need for food is greater in the summer. With schools being out for the summer, most kids don’t have access to breakfast and lunch meals on a regular [basis] as they would during the school year.”
To combat this, Freestore Foodbank is continuing the Summer Feeding program for the summer of 2026. The goal is simple: ensure nutrition doesn’t take a vacation.
“For this project, the children received a box with 14 meals inside. Seven breakfasts and seven lunch meals with milk in each box. The ages ranged from 1 to 18; 19 if they are disabled,” Octavia explains.
These events are more than just handing out food; they help to build trust within the community. “Seeing those children each week brings me so much joy. We’ve established a great relationship with them, and they look forward to us coming each week as well,” she says.
Your support helps dedicated community members like Octavia ensure no child goes hungry this summer and all year long!
Planning for Future Generations
He may be retiring, but Kurt and his family are making sure their impact continues to be felt for years to come.
