Connecting Kids to Meals accepts $185,000 donation

        As childhood hunger in Lucas County and in the state continues to escalate due to the pandemic, Connecting Kids to Meals is receiving sustaining support from local organizations who are committed to the health and wellbeing of the community’s most precious asset – its children.
        On Monday, Oct. 26, Connecting Kids to Meals accepted a donation of $185,000 from Mercy Health, Mercy Health medical staff, and the Toledo Federation of Teachers. These funds will be used to help further Connecting Kids to Meals’ mission to provide hot, nutritious meals throughout the year at no cost to kids ages 18 and under who are in low-income and underserved areas.
        Since 2002, Connecting Kids to Meals has served over 6 million meals to hungry kids in need.
        “This tremendous generosity of the leaders at Mercy Health is awe-inspiring. This gift ensures that Connecting Kids to Meals can continue our critical work of feeding children in our region and allows us to advance our programming in much needed ways,” said Wendi Huntley, president of Connecting Kids to Meals.
        “This is not the first time Mercy Health has shown such leadership and generosity. Besides helping to build our new kitchen a few years ago and aid with strategic planning, earlier this year, at the onset of the COVID pandemic, Mercy Health answered our plea for emergency funding. That support from Mercy Health and other funders allowed Connecting Kids to Meals to quickly shift to new methods and scope of service at a critical time when local school buildings and other facilities were forced to close,” she added.
        Connecting Kids to Meals, formerly, Feed Lucas County Children, is a nonprofit organization which partners with community locations where kids gather during the summer months and throughout the academic year.
        Mercy Health approached Connecting Kids to Meals after members of the medical staffs at St. Vincent Medical Center, St. Charles Hospital and St. Anne Hospital decided to donate money collected through their annual dues to the organization. Collectively, the medical staffs donated $50,000 to helping area youths.
        “As physicians and health care providers, we see first-hand not only the importance of a nutritious diet but also the uncertainty that many in our community face when it comes to feeding their families,” said Dr. Gregory Haselhuhn, chief of staff, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center. “We wanted to show our support for the important work that Connecting Kids to Meals does throughout our community to ensure that all families receive the most basic of needs – food.”
        After learning of the generosity of the medical staffs, leaders at Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital and Mercy Health – St. Anne Hospital, and others in the market donated an additional $40,000 to the organization. Mercy Health – Toledo Foundation matched the entire donation.
        Members of the Toledo Federation of Teachers joined the donation and pledged $5,000 to help feed area families.
        “Caring for our community, especially those who are underserved, is at the core of our Mercy Health mission. I am proud of our medical staff members and our leadership team for their support of Connecting Kids to Meals and the mission of feeding our children,” said Bob Baxter, president, Mercy Health – Toledo. “Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our friends, family and neighbors who face food uncertainty.”
        Connecting Kids to Meals has been feeding hungry at-risk kids for more than 17 years. Among the trusted partners where meals are served include schools, libraries, churches, community centers, parks and other locations where kids gather.
        Last year, about 540,000 nutritious meals were provided to kids during out-of-school time. To learn more about CKM visit https://www.connectingkidstomeals.org/.