Summer food program offered at Urbancrest

By Dedra Cordle

Editor

When Becky Baker’s kids come home on the last day of school, she can’t help but get caught up in their excitement for summer vacation.

“Their happiness is contagious,” she says with a smile.

But when the shared feeling of euphoria subsides, a growing unease comes to the forefront of his mind.

When her children go to school, Baker takes comfort in knowing they are getting two healthy, nutritious meals every day. She doesn’t always have that luxury when they’re on 11-week leave.

Like so many others across the country, Baker’s finances have been strained by persistent inflation and rising costs of groceries and utilities.

“Everything is so expensive now,” said one Grove City resident. “Sometimes you’re waiting for your next paycheck and money gets really tight. When you’re in this situation, you can’t always provide everything you want to provide.

When Baker starts to feel that pinch, when she believes she can’t make another dollar, she finds a local summer meal service program so her children can get those pre-dinner meals.

Sometimes she has to travel further than she would like to get to their house. Over the past few years, she has traveled to the East Side, Far East, North Side and West Side to be able to have lunch for her children. Frequent travel has lightened her wallet and she is keenly aware that her vehicle’s odometer is always rising.

This year, however, she learned there was a summer food service program in Urbancrest Village. She said she couldn’t have been more grateful to have found this place.

“The ride is quite quick and there is a lot to do afterwards,” she said, referring to her children playing on the playground after having their meal.

Urbancrest Village’s summer food service program is part of a larger network to feed children during summer vacation. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and overseen by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the program provides children ages 1 to 18 with breakfast and free lunch every day of the week.

Asha Abdulle, a volunteer with the Somali Education and Resource Center, sponsor of the program, said she encourages anyone who is feeling a little financially insecure to come and share a meal.

“I love being part of this program because it helps put food in the bellies of children,” said Abdulle, a village resident. “I have known hunger and I have known many people who have experienced hunger. I believe everyone should eat good meals and have the comfort of knowing that food is available.

The summer food service program is in effect at the Martin Luther King Park shelter, adjacent to the village administration building located at 3492 First Ave. Breakfasts are served from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Lunches are served from 12:30 p.m. at 1:30 p.m.

The summer food service program will operate in the village until August 20. To view other locations of the Summer Food Service Program, visit the ODEW website at https://education.ohio.gov/topics/student-supports/food-and-program summer nutrition/catering service.

The Village of Urbancrest also opened the Vaughn E. Hairston Southwest Community Center from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for children and young adults. Mayor Joseph Barnes Sr. said they are welcome to make crafts in the art room, play games in the game room and play sports in the gymnasium. The village is also looking for a lifeguard to supervise the aquatic center so that children can swim in the pool.

Barnes said when the village reopened the community center three years ago, they didn’t intend for it to be just a place for recreation.

“We wanted to put the ‘community’ in the community center,” he said. “We want this place to be a beacon for the community, so they can come together mentally, physically and spiritually.” Having this recreation center here and having this summer food service program during the summer helps us fulfill that mission.

The village has hosted a summer catering program for two years. Barnes said they plan to host the program for many years to come.

“We want it to be a pillar of the community.”