COLUMBIANA COUNTY Program to feed children in the summer expanding

The majority of pupils in some districts qualify for the meals.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A drive is under way to expand the program for free or reduced-price meals to Columbiana County's children this summer.
Betsy Barringer, an education consultant with the county's Education Service Center, said the feeding program would help children and could bring an additional $962,874 in federal funding a year to the county.
She is asking educators, social service agencies, local officials, clubs, churches and others to take part in the program.
Schools offer the meals during the school year but may offer them only for a few weeks during the summer during intervention or other programs.
Barringer wants to see meals available to eligible pupils from May through August. "That's what we're hoping for," she added.
Making sure children are fed helps them in many ways.
"They're not angry, upset or tired, and there are fewer visits to school nurses," Barringer said.
The rates of eligible students range from 70 percent to 80 percent in the county's southern portion to 47 percent in the central portion and 20 percent to 40 percent in the northern part of the county.
But many pupils don't take advantage of the free or reduced meals, Barringer said.
Feeding sites must pay for the food initially, but they almost always get 100 percent federal reimbursement, she added.
What's been changed
Summer programs in towns have been successful but haven't been in the large, rural school districts because children can't get to them.
Federal rules prohibit delivery of meals because programs must certify that each youth got the food.
But the rules also have been changed that restricted feeding sites to locations with large kitchens that could certify that the food was kept at appropriate temperatures. Meals now can be prepackaged items that are easily distributed, Barringer said.
Meal sites must be nonprofit organizations, but people from other groups can pitch in at a given site.
Barringer said increasing meals is one of the goals of Action for Health Kids, a public-private agency supported by first lady Laura Bush. Barringer is working with the Children's Hunger Alliance, a nonprofit organization in Ohio.
Jim Couts of the Appalachian Nutrition Network in Marietta will be in Columbiana County on Wednesday through Friday to meet with local groups.
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, has praised Couts' first summer nutrition program that won the Congressional Hunger Award. The summer program is one of the country's largest.
Barringer said Couts also will help to work out the logistics.
"It's amazing what people can do if they work together," Barringer said.
wilkinson@vindy.com
XInterested people or community groups should call (330) 424-9591 Ext. 140.