The Middletown Journal
By Josh Sweigart
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Reports says that thousands of local kids aren't taking advantage of federal food programs.
While one in six Ohio children often goes to bed hungry, local school districts and parents are leaving more than $2.5 million in federal funding untouched on the table.
This is according to a report released this week from the Children's Hunger Alliance, an Ohio nonprofit organization that focuses on ending childhood hunger.
The report states there are 13,585 children living in poverty in Butler County, which is 16 percent of the county's population younger than 18.
If all of these children participated in these programs, it would bring $2.5 million in federal funding to local schools.
Plus, many local child care programs don't use programs to feed children. This leaves another $367,200 untouched.
"The impact these nutritious meals would have in the lives of the state's children could heighten students' test scores, retention and achievement rates, and slow the spread of childhood obesity," the report stated.