Submitted article
The Galion City School District, through the Walmart Foundation’s “Fighting Hunger Together” initiative, recently made a donation of $2,000 to the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission in Galion. The donation, which was a grant secured by the district’s Food Services department, will be utilized to help provide items for Galion students through the Galion Backpack Program.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a five-year, $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment in 2010, stepping up efforts to help end hunger in America. The group reached its goal in 2014 with $260 million and $2.6 billion in in-kind donations.
“We applied for a Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating Community Grant through the Walmart Foundation,” Assistant Food Service Supervisor Laurie Yeater said. “We applied for funding from 10 different Walmart locations close to our school district, and received $1,000 from the Ontario Sam’s Club and $1,000 from the Bucyrus Walmart.”
The funding received was used to purchase gift cards that were donated to the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission. The funds will now be used to purchase products needed to supply Galion students with weekend food backpacks during the school year.
“This donation helps us purchase the items needed to fill backpacks for Galion children,” Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission Outreach Specialist Christine Jones said. “We are going to rely more heavily on donations from the Galion community, so it is very important that we have the entire community’s support for not just the backpack program, but also the other programs we offer to help those in need in our community.”
The Backpack Program currently serves 100 Galion City School District students. The organization’s food supply also meets an even larger demand by serving an additional 130 Galion families.
“Those interested in helping can donate non-perishable food items and taxable items like toilet paper, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant and other personal care and household needs,” Jones said. “We will also accept monetary donations that can be used to purchase the needed items.”
Individuals interested in donating monetarily can do so with cash or a check made payable to Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission. Anyone that donates to the organization will receive an in-kind donation form that allows the donor to write off their contribution on their taxes.
“I am proud of Mrs. Yeater and our Food Services staff for taking the initiative to find ways to support a strong community asset like the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission,” Galion City School District Superintendent Mark Stefanik said. “This organization works tirelessly to support our students and Galion families, and I would encourage everyone to consider making a contribution to help the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission continue its important work in the Galion community.”
For more information about making donations to the Galion Backpack Program, please contact the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission at 419-462-8932.