The amount of hungry kids in Lucas County is staggering. Roughly one in four children face food insecurity, and over 60,000 kids in the Toledo area qualify for free or reduced meals at school.
Wendi Huntley, president and CEO of Connecting Kids to Meals, guides her incredible team of 20 full time staff with seasonal workers filling in to an impressive 65. Their efforts feed 2,500 kids a day during the school year, with an impressive 600,000-700,000 meals served annually. Meals are free for kids and the focus is on increasing access when they are not in school.
And according to Wendi, this only puts a dent in the need. “We’re the second largest in the state, only smaller than Columbus Parks and Recs in the summer months” but when asked if there are still more kids who are hungry, it’s an unequivocal yes.
Connecting Kids to Meals started out modestly in the former executive director’s kitchen back in 2002. It was moved to where it stands today in 2006, in the old Macomber High School building. Cherry Street Ministries collaborated with Connecting Kids in 2016, and they combined efforts to build a shared kitchen that became operational in 2017.
Their operation today runs like clockwork with complex production schedules developed daily to reach their staggering 100 sites during the school year. Developing both after school snacks, after school dinners, and weekend snack bags, their reach spans to Fremont, North Baltimore, Fostoria and Bowling Green. In the summer when kids are out of school, the nonprofit also offers breakfast and lunch.
Wendi challenges the Connecting Kids team to be thoughtful in the variety of foods they include. “We survey the kids to see what kind of snacks they want to eat and we have a three week rotation so they don’t get the same thing in that span of time. We’re also paying close attention to school lunch schedules just to make sure we aren’t serving the same items for dinner they had for lunch.” This thoughtful eye to service is a testament to what Wendi and the Connecting Kids team bring to the community: meeting a real need with compassion and creativity.
GTCF has most recently granted Connecting Kids to Meals (through the R.A. Stranahan Charitable Advised Fund) a grant to support their Summer Meal Program. And as they maintain their incredible operation with the need for healthy meals for kids growing, Connecting Kids has celebrated Hunger Action Month all September and will host a Hunger Action Meal Packing Event this Saturday. For more information on their mission, events, and how to get involved, visit their website here: https://connectingkidstomeals.org/
Reflecting on the incredible work that Connecting Kids has done and continues to do, Wendi sighs. “I’m happy and sad leaving here every night: happy because of the impact we’re making and sad because the need is so great.”