Hunger Alliance provides to Southeastern Ohio

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Walmart Foundation granted Children’s Hunger Alliance in 2016, 1.5 million dollars to do a state-wide needs assessment to see where children in Ohio need food assistance.

According to their  study Southeastern Ohio was one of the highest areas of poverty. Interim C.E.O. Judy Mobley said they chose Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center and Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs to do an Asset Mapping Project. With this Asset Mapping Project they can then find places in Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton Counties to work with them in providing meals for children.

Photo By: Quay DeVoll

“That allows us to see where we can actually meet the needs of these children, what locations allow us to serve those needs best, and how we can start expanding,” Mobley said. “Really feeding these children that are food insecure throughout the southeastern Ohio area.”

The Children’s Hunger Alliance started the asset mapping project by sending out bids and choosing from three organizations. Mobley said they chose M.V.E.S.C. and Voinovich School, because they had previously done similar work.

As part of the second year of the Walmart Foundation grant, while the Asset Mapping Project is underway, the Children’s Hunger Alliance will also be working in Perry County on a Shelf Stable Feeding program.

“We’ve committed to them that while we work on this project that we’re aware of needs, based on last years assessment,” Mobley said. “We’re going to start trying to feed kids and so what we will be doing is, I believe, seven sights in Perry County starting in the month of February with Shelf Stable Meals.

Mobley said that anytime they can work with local organizations who know what areas that need reached, the rate of success goes up. With the help of M.V.E.S.C. and Voinovich School they’ll be able to have the results of each two counties and start providing for those counties immediately.