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Since 2014, Center of Hope Family Services has integrated
solutions to food insecurity in its State Award Winning
after school programs, through its Kids Supper Club
initiative. Dr. Tracee Perryman, CEO, states, “programs
are more likely to succeed when evidence-based programs are
delivered in a culturally responsive manner by a team of
individuals who have advanced training, along with both
practical and professional experience. However, knowledge
and skills are not sufficient alone. These attributes must
be supported by resources that reduce family barriers to
participation and success. One of those barriers is
malnutrition and hunger.”
In 2015, Center of Hope expanded the
Kids Supper Program, and renamed it Hands of Hope. This
expansion was created based upon Dr. Perryman’s observation
that the agency needed to also serve adult clients.
According to Dr. Perryman, “it can send a strong and
negative message when we only serve the children, with no
attention to their parents or family members. Though we
provide meals, we find that the informal, warm interactions
and discussions around the meals are the most important
feature for parents and family members. Families are more
likely to engage when there are informal opportunities for
sharing, and when they believe that special, intentional
provisions have been made to make them feel at home. As
families become engaged, children perform better in school,
and adult members are more likely to take advantage of the
resources that can help them achieve their personal goals.”
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Center of Hope’s feeding initiative
has been supported by the Lucas County Commissioners since
its inception in 2014. Since COVID-19, the agency has
experienced an even greater need to deliver shelf-stable,
family size meals to support the entire family. The Lucas
County Commissioners partnered with Center of Hope
immediately to facilitate their expansion to fill this need.
The Board of Trustees of the Greater Toledo Community
Foundation also approved a grant from the COVID-19 Response
Fund to help Center of Hope to deliver family-sized meal
baskets for Lucas County residents in need.
Nevertheless, the current crisis
presents some unanticipated challenges for the agency whose
students in its Elevate Program are no longer able to
assemble for the critical meals Center of Hope usually
provides at schools.
Center of Hope, therefore, is taking
the meals to the families. Thanks to that funding from
various agencies – such as a recent $30,000 grant from the
Lucas County Commissioners – the Elevate students’ families
will continue to receive meals delivered by the Center of
Hope staff. |
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Research indicates that food insecure
children tend to develop math and reading skills more
slowly, and exhibit higher rates of truancy, tardiness,
behavioral, mental, and emotional problems (http://feedingamerica.org).
Further, food insecurity
leads to the following health problems: higher chances of
hospitalization and chronic health conditions such as
anemia, asthma, oral health problems, and poorer physical
quality of life. Health issues lead to increased school
absence, which also reduces chances of high academic
achievement (http://www.attendanceworks.org).
For more information about Center of
Hope Family Services, visit
www.cohfs.org.
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