|
During a news conference on Monday, March 16 to announce the
collective action, Wendy Pestrue, president of United Way of
Greater Toledo, said: “We need a lot of partners to come to
the table. So far, said Pestrue and the subsequent speakers,
that is exactly what is happening in Toledo – lots of
partners are coming to the table – non-profits, schools,
medical organizations, labor unions, companies.
“The reality is this will be with us for weeks, maybe
months, but certainly for a long time,” said Mayor Wade
Kapszukiewicz. “High on the list of challenges – kids whose
only chance to have a nutritious meal during the day. It is
important to celebrate what is happening today because it
represents the good that has come to the fore. Even in our
struggle, we have a chance to show how good we can be as a
community.”
Wendi Huntley, executive director of Connecting Kids to
Meals, echoed the mayor’s sentiments.
“I’m overwhelmed at the outpouring of support from our
community,” said Huntley, as she explained her agency’s goal
of working with Toledo Public Schools and United Way, along
with whatever other agencies and individuals can help
connect the area’s children with food.
As previously announced:
Toledo Public Schools will also be serving meals to students
out of eight school-locations. Parents / guardians can
reserve a meal at a school by calling or texting United Way
2-1-1. Additionally, if a parent is in closer proximity to a
CKTM serving site, they can reserve a meal at one of those
15 locations, as mentioned above. If a parent / guardian
cannot physically access one of the eight schools or one of
the 15 CKTM sites, they will be given a private, “emergency”
food number to call. At that number, they will leave a
message and TPS representatives will coordinate
home-food-delivery.
United Way of Greater Toledo
will be hosting small volunteer events over the next three
weeks to assemble the 12,000 weekend snack bags. You can
sign up for a volunteer shift to pack a bag or volunteer at
a CKTM serving site by visiting “FeedToledoKids.org.”
The cost of these bags total
$42,000 for three weekends, and partners from City of
Toledo, Fifth Third Bank, Mercy Health, NWO AFL-CIO, NWO
Building & Construction Trades Council, ProMedica, Toledo
Federation of Teachers, Toledo Refining Co. and United Way
have stepped forward to cover these current, and future,
meal costs.
|
