Across Ohio, one in five children experiences hunger. During summer recess, hunger becomes more distressing for students who depend on school meals.

This summer, Mechanicsburg United Methodist Church in the Western Lakes District partnered with the Mechanicsburg Public Library and the nonprofit Children’s Hunger Alliance to provide shelf-stable meals to students from June through mid -August.

Each week, individuals arrived at the church to pick up seven breakfasts and seven lunches to take home. While serving an average of 50 children each week, this outreach nurtured intergenerational relationships, inspired two pop-up Bible studies, and developed a plan for youth activities for the remainder of the year.  Although the volunteers were multi-generational, half were aged 13-17.

“One of my favorite things about this ministry is how many youths were involved,” says Rev. Kristen Lawson, lead pastor of Mechanicsburg UMC. Rev. Lawson seized the opportunity to meet with the young people to hear their ideas for Fall and Winter Youth activities.

“We planned activities with those whose onlyconnection to the church is this outreach ministry,” said Rev. Lawson. “The upcoming Fall activities were created by the voices of the youth who come to serve.”

Over the weeks, as families arrived at the church to pick up meals, children played with coloring books and crayons while adults connected and built relationships with volunteers distributing meals.

When the outreach was complete, over 7,000 meals were served to the community.

Rev. Lawson says, “It is exciting when outreach leads to relationships that lead to discipleship.”