TUFF Bags continues mission at new location

The Tuscarawas United-Feeding our Future Bags program, which originally began in 2016 and was previously housed at Tuscarawas County Health Department and Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court, has been relocated to New Philadelphia First Church of the Nazarene.

“TUFF Bags will continue our mission of serving food-insecure children in Tuscarawas County, just as we have for many years,” said Lisa Walker, TUFF Bags director. “Only the agency in which the program is housed has changed. Packings and distributions have continued without interruption, and we are operating out of the same warehouse on Cookson Avenue. Our partnership with United Way of Tuscarawas County remains strong as they continue to act as our fiscal agent. Moving the program to New Philadelphia Nazarene has provided the program with stability and the opportunity to continue growing. TUFF Bags will also continue as a community service program for Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court.”

“We at New Philadelphia Nazarene are thrilled to be the new home for TUFF Bags. This is such a vital community service, and we wanted to be part of that ongoing effort to help solve food insecurity for the children of Tuscarawas County,” said Scott Jones, lead pastor of New Philadelphia Nazarene. “It’s right in line with one of our core values as a church, which is no strings attached compassion for anyone that comes into contact with our church. We’re excited for the future of TUFF Bags.”

TUFF Bags is working to eradicate childhood hunger, as well as provide education, skill building and community service for at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system. Approximately 3,800 children in Tuscarawas County experience food insecurity, which refers to a lack of regular access to nutritional food.

The food these children receive through TUFF Bags allows them to leave school on Friday without the worry of going hungry until returning to school on Monday.

TUFF Bags is currently serving 1,749 children in six school districts in Tuscarawas County — Indian Valley, Newcomerstown, Dover, Claymont, Tusky Valley and Tuscarawas Central Catholic — as well as STAR Alternative School, Quaker Digital Academy, four HARCATUS Preschool Learning Centers and Strasburg Area Homeschoolers Co-Op.

Call 330-401-3283 or email tuffbags@npnaz.org.