COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sponsored story by Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Access to nutritious food is vital to everyone’s health, and that’s especially true for young kids with growing bodies and minds.
Children with reliable access to healthy meals do better in school and grow into healthier adults. However, food insecurity continues to take center stage in Ohio and across the country.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active, healthy life. About one in four children in the 20 central and eastern counties served by Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) is at risk of being food insecure, and that risk is often higher in the summer.
More than 421,000 kids in central and eastern Ohio rely on free or reduced-cost meal programs during the school year. When classes let out, many children go without. That’s why this summer, MOFC is teaming up with Molina Healthcare of Ohio to help kids and families facing food insecurity as part of the “No School, No Lunch” campaign.
Since 2005, Molina Healthcare of Ohio has offered Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Ohio. They understand the role food security plays in a community’s overall health.
In March 2023, Molina Healthcare of Ohio donated $50,000 to Meals on Wheels to help homebound seniors in southern Ohio get the food they need.
This summer is a critical time to support our neighbors experiencing hunger. In addition to school being out, many families are having a hard time making do with the end of pandemic supports and rising inflation. Giving to MOFC during “No School, No Lunch” will help Molina and MOFC work together to connect communities with healthy food.
Molina Healthcare of Ohio screens people for possible food insecurity during their checkups. Staff refers those who are food insecure to the Mid-Ohio Farmacy program, which gives them weekly access to several food pantries that offer healthy food and fresh produce.
Together, we are committed to making person-centered medical care and fresh, healthy food accessible and available to everyone who needs them.
As Ohio’s largest foodbank, MOFC provides fresh, healthy food and prepared meals to hundreds of thousands of people each year. Together, we are working to make sure Ohioans have access to healthy food so they can live healthier, happier lives.
We’re stronger when we work together, and joining forces brings Ohio one step closer to ending hunger.
Learn more about our efforts to feed kids over the summer at MOFC.org/NoSchool, and learn more about Molina here.
