Local non-profit works to make sure kids have access to hot and healthy meals during the arctic blast

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – The Arctic blast is affecting a lot of programs around the region. That includes Connecting Kids to Meals. The non-profit is a lifeline for thousands of local children and their families.

The organization provides free, hot and healthy meals, to low-income children year-round. But weather like can create extra obstacles.

“In Lucas County alone, one in four children faces hunger. That is tens of thousands of kids. About 60,000 children rely on school meals. Food insecurity means you don’t have enough to eat or you don’t know where your next meal is coming from. We focus on increasing access to and providing meals during out-of-school time, so that means after school and the summer months,” Wendi Huntley, the president and CEO of Connecting Kids to Meals, said.

Connecting Kids to Meals works with hundreds of partners to serve hot and healthy meals to as many children as possible. That includes schools, churches and other organizations.

“We do about 600,000 meals a year. We have about 220 partners year-round. When those partners are not operating it makes it difficult to increase access to healthy meds. So what happens this time of year when we have bad weather? When school is not in we are still providing meals to kids, but at our libraries,” Huntley said.

Huntley said having limited locations because of things like the weather can create a different set of challenges.

“We have to anticipate how many kids will show up. We have numbers based on our data, but on days like this, we really have no idea. We ask for patience from our partners and families in the community,” Huntley said.

Huntley said most Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches serve meals. For a list of sites or to learn more about donating your time or money, click here.

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