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Hot Healthy Meals • Take‑Home Snack Packs • Daily Homework Help Reliable nutrition and academic support for students experiencing homelessness so every child can learn and thrive
The Problem: Hungry Students in Dayton and Across Ohio
Across Dayton and many other Ohio cities, thousands of students arrive at school each day carrying a burden no child should have to manage: hunger.
Rising housing instability, family displacement, and the growing number of students experiencing homelessness mean more children are coming to school without reliable access to food.
In Dayton Public Schools and similar urban districts, educators report that students often:
Come to school without breakfast
Save cafeteria food to take home
Struggle to focus because their basic nutritional needs aren’t met
Miss school due to unstable living conditions, which further disrupts access to meals
This is not just a Dayton issue.
Cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Akron face the same pattern: high poverty rates, limited transportation, and increasing homelessness all contribute to inconsistent access to healthy meals.
When students are hungry, everything becomes harder — concentrating, regulating emotions, completing assignments, and staying engaged in class. Hunger doesn’t just affect the stomach; it affects attendance, behavior, academic performance, and long‑term stability.
Ohio’s educators see it every day.
And families experiencing homelessness feel it even more deeply.
That’s why programs providing reliable nutrition and daily academic support are no longer optional — they are essential.
What We Offer?
A nutritious, hot meal served after the school day USDA child‑nutrition standards; help students stay focused, energized, and ready to learn.
Weekly Take‑Home Snack Packs
Weekly Take‑Home Snack Packs
Shelf‑stable, family‑sized snack packs students can take home each week—easy to carry, easy to store, and designed to reduce food insecurity over weekends and evenings.
Daily Homework Help After School
Daily Homework Help After School
Structured homework assistance staffed by trained tutors and vetted volunteers. Students receive small‑group or one‑to‑one support to build confidence, complete assignments, and strengthen academic skills.
Why This Model Works?
Reduces Hunger‑Related Learning Barriers
Reduces Hunger‑Related Learning Barriers
Consistent access to healthy meals improves concentration, behavior, and school engagement. Students can focus on learning instead of worrying about food.
Improves Attendance & Academic Outcomes
Improves Attendance & Academic Outcomes
When nutrition support is paired with targeted tutoring and wraparound services, students show stronger attendance, better grades, and increased motivation
Creates Stability for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Creates Stability for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Reliable meals and predictable academic support help students feel safe, supported, and connected to caring adults.
🍎 Student Healthy Food Program & Homework Help — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q 1 Where does the money and food come from to support the healthy meals and snacks?
Q 1 Where does the money and food come from to support the healthy meals and snacks?
Our healthy meals and weekly snack packs are funded through a combination of community partnerships, grants, and in‑kind support. This blended model keeps the program reliable for students and affordable for schools.
1. University & College Partnerships
1. University & College Partnerships
Local universities and colleges contribute funding as part of their service‑learning, internship, and community‑impact commitments. These partnerships help cover:
Meal costs
Snack‑pack supplies
Tutor training and staffing
Program coordination
This is one of the most stable funding streams because it aligns with higher‑education goals around youth support and community engagement.
2. Grants and Philanthropic Support
2. Grants and Philanthropic Support
We apply for grants from:
Local and statewide foundations
Youth‑development and education funders
Hunger‑relief and family‑stability programs
Corporate giving programs
These grants help sustain the food program, expand tutoring hours, and support students experiencing homelessness.
3. Community Donations & Sponsorships
3. Community Donations & Sponsorships
Businesses, faith communities, and individual donors contribute by:
Sponsoring weekly snack packs
Donating shelf‑stable food items
Providing funding for hot meals
Supporting emergency needs for students
Every donation directly supports a child’s nutrition and academic stability.
4. In‑Kind Food Support from Local Partners
4. In‑Kind Food Support from Local Partners
Some of the food used in snack packs comes from:
Local food banks
Grocery partners
Community organizations
Bulk‑purchase discounts negotiated with suppliers
This ensures students receive healthy, consistent, and easy‑to‑carry items each week.
5. School & District Collaboration
5. School & District Collaboration
Schools often provide:
Space for meal service
Coordination support
Access to students who need the program most
This reduces overhead and keeps the program focused on direct student support.
Why This Matters
By combining higher‑education funding, community donations, grants, and in‑kind food support, we ensure that students experiencing homelessness receive daily nutrition and academic help without interruption — even when their living situation is unstable.
Q 2 Who is eligible to receive meals and homework help?
Q 2 Who is eligible to receive meals and homework help?
Students experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or food insecurity are prioritized.
Schools, shelters, and community partners may refer students who need consistent nutrition and academic support.
Q 3 What types of meals do students receive?
Q 3 What types of meals do students receive?
Students receive:
A daily hot meal that meets USDA child‑nutrition standards to help them stay focused and energized after school
Weekly take‑home snack packs that are shelf‑stable, easy to carry, and designed to reduce weekend food insecurity
Q 4 What does the homework help include?
Q 4 What does the homework help include?
Q 5 Why combine food support with homework help?
Q 5 Why combine food support with homework help?
Because hunger affects everything — focus, behavior, attendance, and academic performance.
Providing nutrition + academic support together removes two of the biggest barriers students face:
Hunger
Lack of after‑school academic help
This model improves attendance, strengthens academic outcomes, and creates stability for students experiencing homelessness
Q 6 How does this program support teachers?
Q 6 How does this program support teachers?
Teachers report that hungry students struggle to focus, save cafeteria food to take home, and often miss school due to unstable living conditions.
By ensuring students are fed and supported academically after school, teachers experience:
Fewer incomplete assignments
More focused students
Better classroom behavior
Reduced pressure to fill gaps caused by hunger and instability
Q 7 How can families or schools refer a student?
Q 7 How can families or schools refer a student?
Referrals can be made through the “Refer a Student” button on your site or by contacting:
Q 8 How can community partners get involved?
Q 8 How can community partners get involved?
Schools, churches, universities, and youth‑serving organizations can partner with us to:
Host meal distribution
Provide volunteers
Support tutoring
Sponsor snack packs
Expand services to more students
Use the “Partner With Us” button on your site to get started.
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