Boys & Girls Club offers healthy snacks, food education

During the past semester, children participating in the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster were part of a new program called Project Childhood Hunger Outreach Program. Funded by a grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation, the program brought healthy after-school snacks and food education to the students.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to empower all young people to reach their full potential as citizens. Children in kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible.

Project CHOP was created in response to the need to provide nutritious snacks as part of the program.

“Recognizing that many children in our community were arriving hungry and struggling to focus, we saw an opportunity to address this critical issue by providing not only nourishing meals, but also education on healthy eating habits,” said Jenni Szafranski, director of development at the club.

Project CHOP goes beyond simply providing meals and achieves the dual focus of addressing both hunger relief and education as a catalyst for long-term change. Initially, the staff purchased and prepared the meals. It quickly became apparent this approach was not sustainable due to inadequate kitchen space and resources.

With a program focus on using locally sourced food, Szafranski said Local Roots Market and Cafe seemed like a perfect choice for a connection.

“After meeting with them,” she said, “the partnership was quickly and enthusiastically formed.”

An additional local partnership was created with Hartzler Dairy to provide milk.

Szafranski said the kids are loving all the healthy food options. “They’ve traded their usual meal-time grumbles for excitement about what’s on the menu,” she said.

Find the Boys & Girls Club of Wooster online at www.bgcwooster.org/, Facebook at BGCW1 and Instagram at BGCWooster.

“What began as a simple idea to feed our club kids has grown into a comprehensive program that not only combats food insecurity, but also empowers children with lifelong knowledge and skills to make healthier choices,” Szafranski said. “Project CHOP reflects our commitment to nurturing the whole child — body, mind and spirit. It’s teaching kids where their food comes from, why fresh ingredients matter, and how to make choices that keep them strong and healthy.

“It’s creating a sense of community, with local farmers and vendors coming together to support the next generation. And it’s giving parents peace of mind, knowing their kids are not only eating well, but learning skills that will serve them for life. At its heart Project CHOP is about nourishing bodies, minds and futures.”

The club is currently working to secure funding to continue Project CHOP in 2025. Donate directly to Project CHOP at secure.givelively.org/donate/boys-and-girls-club-of-wooster-inc/project-chop-program-fund or mail a check to Boys & Girls Club of Wooster, 124 N. Walnut St., Wooster, OH 44691.