Children’s Hunger Alliance Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Expand Child Nutrition Programs
(Columbus, Ohio) – The Walmart Foundation recently awarded $1.5 million to Children’s Hunger Alliance, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that children without access receive healthy food, nutrition education and physical activity.
This grant, the largest in the history of Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA), will allow the agency to expand its work with in-home child care providers, and school breakfast, summer nutrition and afterschool programs, to reach even more children at risk of hunger in Ohio.
“This grant from the Walmart Foundation is transformational for Children’s Hunger Alliance,” said President and CEO Mary Lynn Foster.
“It will provide the resources for us to pinpoint the greatest areas of unmet need in Ohio and expand our programs to provide those children with nutritious meals.”
Grant funds will help Children’s Hunger Alliance:
Expand sponsorship of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program to child care centers. Currently, CHA sponsors only Family Day Care Home providers.
Increase participation in the federal School Breakfast Program. Currently only 42% of free and reduced price eligible students who access school lunch also access school breakfast.
Expand the number of afterschool meal programs sponsored by CHA, especially in areas of Ohio that are critically underserved.
Increase participation in the federal Summer Nutrition Programs. Currently only 7% of free and reduced price eligible students who access school lunch also access summer lunch.
Hire additional Community Outreach staff members around Ohio to identify new sites, establish and expand programs, troubleshoot issues and track results.
In addition to expanding the number of meal sites and children served, this grant from the Walmart Foundation in partnership with Children’s Hunger Alliance will lay the groundwork for even more expanded services and programs in the years to come.
“Our partnership with the Walmart Foundation and this transformative gift will grant CHA a clear vision of all that we might achieve in the state of Ohio in the fight against childhood hunger,” added Erin G. Flynn, Senior Vice President of Development for Children’s Hunger Alliance.
The grant opportunity was initiated through the relationship between Michael J Bender, Walmart’s Chief Operating Officer, Global eCommerce, and Erin Flynn, CHA’s Senior Vice President of Development. Together they identified how Walmart’s commitment to hunger relief could support CHA’s fight against childhood hunger
“Often the task seems too daunting, but we can make a difference and come together for the common good by leveraging relationships with entities like the Walmart Foundation.”