CareSource volunteers team with Children’s Hunger Alliance on packing meals

Recently, eighteen CareSource volunteers spent an hour of their morning packing over 700 weekend meal boxes in conjunction with our partners from Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA). Overall, the volunteer team filled 3.5 pallets at six meals per box for a total of 4,200 meals.

"The CareSource relationship with CHA dates back to 2007, and we continue to evolve the partnership every year,” said Jesse Reed, Director of Life Services for CareSource. “Their mission to provide nutritionally balanced meals to Ohio's children experiencing food insecurity statewide speaks directly to our own CareSource heartbeat and Life Services Social Determinants of Health strategy. And for me personally, I can't think of anything more important than feeding hungry kids."

Locally CHA partners with Dayton Department of Recreation, Dayton Leadership Academy, Northridge Local Schools, Dayton Children's Hospital, Pathways School of Discovery, and Our Lady of the Rosary. CHA also works with childcare centers and family childcare providers in the area.

“Children’s Hunger Alliance is so thankful to have a partner like CareSource that shares our core values in helping the Ohio communities we both serve,” said Cindi Marshall, Vice President of Development at Children’s Hunger Alliance.  “The recent investment, along with their team volunteering with our weekend meal program, has strengthened the relationship between our two organizations.”

This past spring, CareSource helped fund the expansion of the Children’s Hunger Alliance weekend meal distribution program.

“By working together, we will be able to improve access to meals for children when school meals are not available,” Steve Ringel, CareSource Ohio Market President. “Our partnership with Children’s Hunger Alliance enables many young Ohioans to have a consistent supply of nutritious food as part of their diet.”

And while box packing events like the one that took place at CareSource was helpful, the need for more community partners is real.

“Our work providing children with one of their most basic needs, food, continues to be urgent,” added Marshall. “We are committed to help these children and together with great groups like CareSource, we are making a difference in their lives!"