Weekender Bags and beyond: nourishing neighbors across Medina County
Feeding Medina County supports more than 4,000 residents each month through programs like Weekender Bags, food distributions and senior deliveries, ensuring no neighbor goes hungry.Submitted
No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, but for thousands of families in Medina County, that’s a daily reality. Feeding Medina County is working to change that by making sure people have access to the food they need. Executive Director Janet Newcomer said, “Our mission is to nourish our neighbors in need.”
Feeding Medina County’s Weekender Bags program has grown from just 50 snack bags in 2012 to nearly 1,100 bags delivered weekly during the school year, ensuring children have food over the weekends.Submitted
Feeding Medina County is the largest food pantry in the area, running five major programs that support children, seniors and working families across the county. The organization began when local leaders recognized the growing problem of food insecurity and joined forces to address it. As Newcomer puts it, “We don’t want anyone in Medina County to go without food.”
One of its biggest efforts is the Weekender Bags program. It started in 2012 with just 50 snack bags, but now nearly 1,100 are packed and delivered each week during the school year — and the program runs all year. These bags go to children who receive free or reduced-price lunches at school but might not have enough to eat on the weekends. Each bag is filled with simple, easy-to-make foods such as snacks, breakfast items and proteins, ensuring kids always have something to eat when school meals aren’t available.
Newcomer leads a dedicated team of four employees and more than 200 volunteers. They work daily to keep the warehouse stocked with fresh produce, canned goods and proteins, making sure food gets to the people who need it most. One day might mean delivering bags to a school, and the next could involve organizing a food drive or speaking to community groups.
Beyond Weekender Bags, Feeding Medina County offers weekly food distributions where volunteers load groceries directly into cars, an emergency pantry for those who need immediate help, monthly deliveries to senior housing, and even home deliveries for residents unable to get out. The group welcomes donations of shelf-stable foods and financial gifts, which help stretch every dollar by allowing the pantry to buy in bulk.
Right now, Feeding Medina County supports more than 4,000 people each month. To donate, volunteer or organize a food drive, visit FeedingMedinaCounty.org. As Newcomer said, “We can’t do what we do without the support and help of our communities.”
Annie Milo, a Brunswick Middle School student, is one of more than 50 student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club.
