July 09--Nearly 70,000 Ohio children received meals last summer through the state's Summer Nutrition Program, a 13 percent jump from 2008, according to a recent report.
Advocates say the recession and prolonged unemployment have driven up need. Despite the increase, thousands more children who qualify for meals are not being served, they say.
While eligibility guidelines are the same, only one of every eight students who participate in the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch program during the school year receive meals in the summer.
The report released by the Food Research and Action Center, a national anti-hunger advocacy group, found Ohio served 12 percent of eligible children last year. The national average was 16 percent.
Two of the state's leading anti-hunger organizations, the Ohio Children's Hunger Alliance and Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, say more must be done to reach eligible children.
"Hunger does not end at the end of the academic year and neither should our efforts to get wholesome food to children in need," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of Second Harvest.
Advocates also stress that Ohio is losing out on millions in federal aid. For example, if Ohio served 40 percent of eligible children -- an additional 155,775 children -- the state would qualify for nearly $11 million more.
ccandisky@dispatch.com
-----
To see more of The Columbus Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.columbusdispatch.com.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).