Food Access Update
Great things are happening across the four-county area as community partners work together to improve food access for students, seniors, and families. A school food access survey was completed with participation from 21 schools, helping identify where additional support is needed most. Schools also received information about food resources, summer lunch programs, and weekend backpack programs. Student-focused food resources are now being added to the Community Food Matrix to help families more easily connect with meal programs and support services.
Food box programs are also continuing to grow. Through a partnership with Catholic Charities, monthly family food box distributions are available for households with children. Organizations serving families can sign up to receive food boxes, pick them up, and distribute them directly to the households they support. There is also a strong focus on supporting seniors through food boxes and SNAP enrollment assistance. East Central District Health Department (ECDHD) created bilingual SNAP flyers in English and Spanish to help spread awareness throughout the community. Future Community Health Workers will assist seniors with SNAP applications and resource navigation, and the committee is exploring opportunities to bring enrollment assistance directly to pantry locations. In addition, Columbus Area United Way (CAUW) secured $100,000 in funding to support at least eight senior supplemental food box distributions through February 2027. The first senior distribution will take place on May 27 and continue monthly afterward — bringing more meals, more support, and more volunteer opportunities to the community.
Fresh produce rescue efforts are also moving forward. Weekly produce distributions will resume at the end of June with updated logistics to make pickups easier and more efficient. Produce distribution will now take place in the east parking area of CAUW, where organizations can collect fresh produce to distribute to households experiencing food insecurity. With two trailers already available, the team is now looking for community champions in Boone and Nance Counties to help transport produce and expand access to healthy foods.
From school lunches and backpack programs to senior food boxes and rescued produce, the four-county partnership continues showing what is possible when communities work together —great things are happening. Reach out to CAUW for more information.
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