Rooted in Action

Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) was founded when one woman saw a need in her neighborhood—and took action. “She saw a lot of kids that were food insecure,” says James L. Harter, PhD, Director of Development at Children’s Hunger Alliance. “She said, ‘We’ve got to do something about this.’” With a small grant and donated office furniture, CHA was born. Today, it operates across 76 counties in Ohio, partnering with over 1,800 organizations to serve more than 10.8 million meals annually.

CHA’s mission is simple yet vital: to ensure children without consistent access to nutritious food receive the nourishment they need to thrive. That mission is carried out through a variety of programs, including after-school meals, summer food service, school breakfast support, child care provider partnerships, and weekend meal boxes.

Meeting Kids Where They Are

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we try to meet children where they’re at,” says Harter. “Whether it’s schools, child care providers, or after-school programs, we look for the places where kids are—and where hunger might be going unnoticed.”

One major area of focus is weekend meals. “When the bell rings on Friday afternoon, some of these kids may not see another meal until Monday,” he explains. “That’s a huge gap, and that’s where our weekend meal boxes come in.”

Each box includes six ready-to-eat meals, and CHA partners with local sponsors to get them into the hands of children who need them most. “We were able to get Designetics involved at Summit Academy in Toledo,” Harter shares. “That school serves children on the spectrum and those with ADHD—kids who often don’t get the attention they need in larger public settings. So the partnership was a natural fit.”

Creating Long-Term Change

Harter emphasizes the broader impact of fighting food insecurity. “Educators have a hard time teaching kids who are hungry,” he says. “Absenteeism drops, test scores go up, and trips to the nurse’s office go down when students have full stomachs. We’re hearing this directly from the administrators we work with.”

The connection goes beyond academics. “If you ever want to break the cycle of poverty, we have to make sure kids are fed,” Harter says. “We know from national research that food-secure children are more likely to graduate from high school. And we’re seeing more healthcare providers getting involved, because they understand the link between childhood nutrition and lifelong health.”

Partners Make It Possible

While some federal programs help offset the cost of meals, Harter says they don’t cover everything. “We’re always raising additional funds,” he explains. “The weekend meals program, for example, is primarily supported by private dollars. We have an extensive waiting list of schools across Ohio.”

That’s why local and corporate partnerships are so critical. “We’re always looking for partners who want to help us fill the gaps—especially in child care, after-school, and weekend programs,” says Harter. “We don’t want to duplicate services. We want to find where the need is greatest and meet it head-on.”

A Mission with Heart

After 35 years in higher education, Harter’s path to CHA was deeply personal. “I always believed education could break the cycle of poverty,” he shares. “But I realized—educators can’t teach hungry kids. This work helps level the playing field in a very real way.”

His motivation is grounded in both data and faith. “I’m a person of faith, and I tell people—what better job is there than helping feed God’s children?”

Get Involved

Children’s Hunger Alliance thrives because of compassionate individuals, organizations, and businesses who believe no child should go hungry. Here’s how you can help:

• Sponsor a School: Help fund weekend meal boxes for students in need.
• Host a Meal-Packing Event: Engage your team or community group in hands-on service.
• Donate: Every $15 provides a weekend meal box with six ready-to-eat meals.
• Partner: If you run an after-school program, child care center, or community site, connect with CHA to provide meals at no cost to your organization.

“There are gaps—and we need partners to help fill them,” says Dr. James Harter. “Together, we can ensure more children have access to the food they need to learn, grow, and thrive.”

Learn more or make a donation at childrenshungeralliance.org.

Continue the Conversation

Care for Kids wants to hear from you!

• How can local businesses and individuals come together to help close the weekend meal gap for children in our community?
• In what ways does addressing food insecurity early in life create a stronger, healthier future for our entire region?