Medina County: Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation By: Sandy Calvert, Executive Director

I N S I D E

T H I S

I S S U E :

Director’s Note 1

Spring Leadership

Ball

2

Pizza Palooza 2

Wish List 2

Volunteer

Spotlight

3

Program Updates 3

Community Bless-

ings

3

New Faces 4

Save the Date… 5

Thank you 5

Community Gar-

den

6

S A N D Y C A L V E R T

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

F E E D I N G M E D I N A C O U N T Y

9 0 1 L A F A Y E T T E R D .

M E D I N A , O H 4 4 2 5 6

3 3 0 - 4 2 1 - 4 8 1 6

W W W . F E E D I N G M E D I N A C O U N T Y . O R G S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 Board of Directors

Pat Geissman

Jeff Plumer

Bill Frantz

Rose Viny

Terry O’Connor

Lucy Sondles

Matt Marquard

Brian Williams

C H E C K O U T T H E F E E D I N G M E D I N A C O U N T Y F A C E B O O K P A G E F O R

A L L C U R R E N T E V E N T S

To Volunteer Call

330-421-4816

Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation During the summer months, children who normally receive free or reduced price school meals must rely on federally fund-ed Summer Feeding Programs and chari-table privately funded summer feeding programs. In many cases, however, chil-dren can’t access summer meals for a variety of reasons, including barriers such as a lack of transportation or a lack of lo-cal summer feeding programs. A recent report found that for every 100 children in Ohio that received free or reduced-price meals during the 2013-14 school year, only 10.4 accessed summer feeding pro-grams. In Medina County alone 15% of our children under age 5 and below are living in poverty. Food pantry use has risen 111% since 2006. In 2013 food pantry visits totaled 65,335 in Medina County. There is much that can be done to ensure our children don’t go hungry during the summer. Feeding Medina County two summers ago extended the Weekenders for children program into the summer months. More has to be done. Medina County District Library and Unit-ed Way along with Feeding Medina

County will be seeking ways to address summer hunger issues for our children. At a Federal level more can be done to help. The Child Nutrition Program is scheduled to be reauthorized by Con-gress in 2015. Reauthorization provides an excellent opportunity to invest in the Summer Nutrition Feeding Programs to increase the number of opportunities for more local sites. The 2015 Reauthorization Act could dra-matically expand and make it easier for nonprofit organizations to serve children including improving the eligibility test by lowering it from 50 to 40 percent so more low-income communities can participate in the Summer Feeding Program; stream-lining the administrative requirements so nonprofit organizations and local govern-ment agencies can provide meals; and offering grants for transportation to assist food site sponsors in providing transit to children.

L & Above—Volunteers packing weekender bags for the kids for the summer feeding program.

Newsletter Editor

Melody Costello

P A G E 2

Spring Leadership Ball in Service to Feeding Medina County

Feeding Medina County spon-sored the 56th annual Medina County Spring Leadership Ball. Thirty Medina County High School seniors were recognized for their contributions to their school and community as well as their academic success. The Ball was held April 26 at Weymouth Country Club. Leading up to the Ball, the girls participated in the Have a Heart food collection drive in their district; attended a formal

t e a w i t h special lad ies f r o m t h e i r l i f e a n d

Wish

List

Industrial

Grade Fan for

Warehouse

Floor Scrubber

Lighting

Vacuum

Cleaner

Electrical

Outlets

Utility Sink

If you or your

business can help

with any o f Feed-

ing Medina Coun-

ty’s Wish List

items please call us

at 330-421-4816 or

email at melo-

dy@feedingmedina

county.org

Thank You!!!

Please “like” us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/FeedingMedinaCounty

2014 Medina County Spring Leader-ship Ball Honorees posed with the

FMC truck!

Medina High School honorees and escorts the night of the ball.

Main Street Medina Hosts Pizza Palooza The 2nd annual Pizza Palooza was held June 14 at the Medina Square in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market. Over 30 non-profit and social service agencies were on hand to talk about their organizations. Attendees were able to purchase tickets to try 6 pizza vendors “pies” and vote on the best. Judges, Commissioner Pat Geissman, Jani Groza,

Westfield Insurance, and Mayor Dennis Hanwell sampled all 6 pizzas and chose Marco’s as “judges’ choice”. Voters’ choice went to Gionino’s Pizza.

were treated to a UBU event. The Ball raised over $7,000 for Feeding Medina County.

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Program Updates

P A G E 3 S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

Volunteer Spotlight Staples for Seniors— Feeding Medina Coun-ty is providing 390 seniors each month with fresh produce, meat, bread and nonperishable food items. Weekenders for Children— Feeding Medina County is now serving 12 schools in the Coun-ty. And five Head Start Centers in Brunswick, Chatham, Medina and Wadsworth. Free Food Distribution— The Free Food dis-tributions started back in May in Brunswick, Lodi and Wadsworth. Free-Transit Service for Pantries— Feeding Medina County has raised the funds to pur-chase a new truck. Community Garden & Orchard— A total of 40 apple, peach and pear trees have been planted in the Orchard. The Community Gar-den was planted on May 31st. The blueberry bushes are in blossom! Please stop by and visit the garden; it is an amazing effort by our community to provide fresh produce to supple-ment our feeding programs.

Emily gives of her time to work in the Community Gar-den. She also donated her time to play the music for the Spring Leadership Ball.

Feeding Medina County could not do all it does without the loyal support of our many volunteers. Each edition of the newsletter shines the light on a volunteer to let them know just how special they are.

Emily Semenik

July 26—11:00am—The Red Onion in Brunswick is hosting a cornhole tournament $35/team includes food; $12 /person for just food. Register by July 22. July 26—7:00pm– Bill Dobbins, professor of jazz studies at Eastman School of Music will play Dave Bru-beck at UCC church in Medina. A free will offering will be collected. July 28 - August 3 - parking fundraiser during the Fair. We are in need of volunteers to help park cars and collect money. Volunteers will receive a FMC t-shirt. August 14-5:30pm—Season’s Harvest Dinner—$80/person for a 4 course farm to table dinner. Spon-sored by the Medina County Farm Bureau August 15 –4:30pm-7:00pm (or when fish runs out) - Fish Fry sponsored by Emmanuel United Church of Christ during the Valley City Street Fair. August 23—Faceplant 500—$15 or a brown bag of food to participate. Ride a child’s toy down the Regan Park Hill.

Community Blessings Please Support Feeding Medina County by attending one

of the many events benefiting us!

Check our FMC Facebook page for more details!

New Faces at Feeding Medina County Feeding Medina County would like to introduce the newest additions to staff: Melody Costello, Office Manager – Melody brings over 15 years of of-fice administrative experience to Feeding Medina County. She began volunteering with FMC last year and found a passion for our mission of feeding the food insecure. Melody also volunteers with Medina City Schools, at her church in various roles, and is on the Medina Spring Leadership Ball committee. Melody lives in Medina with her husband Todd and daughters, Emily and Kacey.

Dan Meagher, Operations Manager— Dan has assumed a new po-sition with FMC as Operations Manager. Dan’s past construction experience is a great fit to help us maintain the building and ware-house. His background is also invaluable for ordering food, truck scheduling and volunteers and overseeing the Weekenders and Staples for Seniors programs.

Bryonna Garner— is part of the Summer Youth Employment—JOG for Ohio Graduates program assigned to FMC for ten weeks during the summer to help with the Garden. Bryonna attended Buckeye

High School. She has a one year old daughter. She plans on studying Office Administration in the near future. John Garner—is Bryonna’s younger brother and also comes to us from the Summer Youth Employment—JOG Jobs For Ohio’s Grad-uate program assigned to the Garden. John will be a junior at Buckeye High School this year. He plays football and basketball for the Bucks.

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Send your tax-deductible donation to: Feeding Medina County, 901 Lafayette Rd., Medina, OH 44256 To Donate online click here

Feeding Medina County is a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation.

Save the Date ... The Fourth Annual Breaking Bread on Bourbon Street Gala will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Williams on the Lake in Medina. The event, which is proving to be a Medina County favorite, will feature a Cajun-style sit-down dinner, an elaborately decorated ‘Bourbon Street’ to stroll along and check out the in-credible art, a jazz trio, silent and live auction items, fortune tellers, caricature artists, and much more.

We are blessed to have Medina County businesses who have provided free services and food to Feeding Medina County this year. Please support these businesses. Aldi’s-donated food Lloyd's Towing-truck maintenance Sandridge Food Corporation—truck maintenance & food 620 Corporation—Parking Lots Apollo Pest & Home Inspections Evan Hollopeter—snow removal & mowing Peter’s Landscaping—lawn services Medina Tractor Sales—garden and orchard preparation Chickmaster—leased land Temperature Control—Freezer Maintenance

P A G E 5 S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

Our 2nd annual community garden is growing nicely. We have harvested tomatoes, rad-ishes, blueberries, strawberries, chives, snow peas, green beans, and peppers. Still to come is watermelon, broccoli, chard, eggplant, squash and other vegetables. The garden would not have been possible without the support of the community. Thank you to the fol-lowing donors: Corkscrew Saloon Ameri-Cal Corp Shelly & Stewart Rea Kathy Brisley-Sedon, DDS Freida Distaulo Michael Goyette, DDS The Costello Family Transfer Title Agency, Inc. Marge Berish Medina Tractor Sales Ventrac of Wayne County MCCC/Rick Malone Diane Nickle Gary Mennel Envision Holdings Sow it Forward Smith Brothers Nourse Farms Gale’s Garden Center Mary Smith Boyert’s Zion Lutheran Church Mike & Judy Placko Matthew Hirt MCDL—Brunswick & Buckeye—No Produce Left Behind Volunteers who have contributed time to the garden include: Ron Maitland, Community Garden Volunteer Coordinator; Cynthia Hall, Emily Semenik, Judge Kevin Dunn and the Juvenile Court Community Service Teen program, Emily and Megan Dunn, Bryonna Garner, John Garner, Goodwill Industries, Girl Scout Troop 90217, Mary Ogden, Medina 4-H group, Archer Family, Costello Family, Rena Maynard, Rapp Family, Maria Frantz, Sawicki Family, Jannette Hoag, Angela Rosen, Mary Ann Riccio, Marlene Davies, Sherri Rivera, Erica Horschler, Elizabeth Craig, James Kimbler, April & Skylar Barnett, Emily Cappinger, Sarah Dressel, Colleen Conti, Kimberly Neuman, Ashley & Tammy Hoegler, Barba-ra Morris, Celia Lewandowski, Suzy & Jacob Marquis, Patricia Andrews, Vera Stanley, Sheila Shuttera, Sara Holmes, Elvira Martinez, Ferrell-Whited Physical Therapy

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