Calling on Community Groups to Make an Impact on Food Insecurity

OPEN M is seeking community groups to make an impact on the community in 2021 by providing a Hot Lunch for the Summit Lake Community. Groups can volunteer in-person by providing and serving a meal or provide support from home by making a donation to the program. 

OPEN M’s Hot Lunch program provides fresh, hot meals for Akron residents during the last two weeks of each month. This program is provided in partnership with churches, organizations and community groups who purchase, cook and serve each meal. In 2019, the Hot Lunch program volunteers served 7,272 meals averaging around 88 meals served each day. 

According to Feeding America, more than 50 million people may experience food insecurity, including a potential 17 million children, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and need to rely on their local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support.

After temporarily suspending the program in April 2020 due to COVID-19, OPEN M adapted Hot Lunch to keep its volunteers and participants safe and started the program back up in August 2020. The meal was served outside to-go rather than the traditional sit-down meal and masks and social distancing were required.

“We continue to strictly follow safety and social distancing guidelines, yet we are experiencing a major decrease in volunteers for this program, said Christine Curry, OPEN M CEO.”

“Typically, we are able to fill all of the dates with no problem, but this year has been different. We understand that many churches and workplaces are uncomfortable meeting in-person and we respect that decision. We hope to find small groups that are comfortable being together.”

To learn more about this program or to sign your group or organization up to serve, please contact food@openm.org or call 330-434-0110 ext. 416. A donation of $250 can cover the cost of Hot Lunch for approximately 50 - 60 people. Donations to the program can be made on www.openm.org/donate or by mailing a check to 941 Princeton St., Akron, OH 44311.