Every year Children’s Hunger Alliance recognizes individuals and organizations in each of our program areas who go above and beyond to provide food to children. Each of these honorees were recognized at our 2023 Menu of Hope event, held on March 1, 2023.
The 2022 Program of the Year honorees were:
- Rodriguez Childcare Center (Columbus) – Childcare Center Program of the Year
Rodriguez Childcare Center has been a CHA partner for three years. They serve “home style” meals and encourage the children to try different foods. The resident cook serves well-balanced nutritious meals and snacks, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. The staff is very friendly and maintains a loving and nurturing environment for the children.
- Sherri Congrove (Circleville) – In-Home Childcare Provider of the Year
Sherri Congrove goes above and beyond for the children in her care. She has love for children like no other, as displayed in the way her home has been set up to educate the kids. Many of the meals she makes are from scratch, which many of the children do not get at home. Ms. Congrove exhibits the characteristics and practices that CHA looks for in their partners.
- Columbus Metropolitan Library (Columbus) – Afterschool Program of the Year
Columbus Metropolitan Library has been a CHA partner since 2015. The library system provides meals each day at 15 branch libraries in conjunction with their Homework Help Centers. Last school year, they provided nearly 80,000 meals. In 2022, they began providing year-round food service with CHA as part of the Summer Food Service Sponsorship.
- Perry County District Library (New Lexington) – Summer Program of the Year
Perry County District Library has been an afterschool and summer CHA partner since 2019. There are six branches in their system, but only four branches qualify for the USDA Summer Food Service Program, so they began purchasing food on their own to meet the need of all patrons. The library administration has a commitment to providing food access to Perry County residents.
- Northwood Local Schools (Northwood) – School Breakfast Program of the Year
Northwood Local Schools wants to make sure that no student begins their day hungry. With a No Kid Hungry grant, facilitated by CHA, they started a breakfast in the classroom program allowing all students to start their day ready to learn. Approximately 600 students in Kindergarten to 12th grade eat breakfast at school where they have a choice of a variety of items. They operate a grab-and-go model for breakfast, which has helped to increase participation. The entire school staff has been supporting this program as they know students who have breakfast are ready to learn.
- Mansfield City Schools (Mansfield) – Weekend Meals Program of the Year
As part of the Adopt-A-School expansion, Mansfield City Schools is able to provide weekend meal boxes to all students at Sherman Elementary. The meals, which are provided weekly, contain two breakfasts and three lunch/dinners. These are a great supplement for those living in food insecure households. Watch the video below to see more about Mansfield City Schools and the Weekend Meals Program.
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