Nonprofit Offers Free Summer Meals to Cincinnati Children
With school out for summer, many children across Ohio lose access to the meals they depend on during the academic year. But in Hamilton and Butler counties, a great summer initiative is stepping in, blending nourishment with culture to serve children and their communities.
At the heart of the effort is the Bi-Okoto Cultural Center in Cincinnati’s Pleasant Ridge neighborhood, home to the Images of Afrika summer camp. Designed for children ages 6 to 12, the camp offers an immersive experience in West African culture, from vibrant dance and drumming to storytelling and art.
“Once you step into our program, you’re in Africa,” said Funmi Ajamufua, camp director. “When children come, they have to take off their shoes to be able to do these dances.”
The camp is one of 26 host sites run by Whole Again International, a nonprofit delivering more than just meals. Its Summer Food & Enrichment Program provides over 1,000 children with nutritious food and learning activities, addressing both hunger and summer learning loss.
“Every child needs to be fed, because truly when you’re hungry, you don’t get to concentrate,” Ajamufua emphasized.
Despite growing needs and rising costs, the program is pushing forward. Whole Again Executive Director Kendra Scott said staffing and funding remain major challenges, especially as some school zones report 100% eligibility for free or reduced lunch.
To help keep things going, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Boots on the Ground Fund recently awarded Whole Again a $25,000 grant, a timely boost as changes to federal assistance programs like SNAP and the National School Lunch Program loom.
