FINDING SOLUTIONS: Group helps provide meals to kids

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - When schools have to close or release early for severe weather or any reason at all, it can put a strain on families.

In more ways than you may think, it can be difficult to juggle work, but a lot of families also depend on those school meals. When they suddenly disappear, children can go hungry.

That’s where the Family Y of Greater Augusta is finding solutions.

If you think packing lunches is a huge undertaking at your house, check out the operation at the Family Y of Greater Augusta.

“When the schools called out, we just pivoted and decided to do an out-of-school day,” said Cheryl Wirt, CFO of Family Y of Greater Augusta and founder of Cheryl’s Kitchen.

MORE FINDING SOLUTIONS:

• FINDING SOLUTIONS: New project ensures everyone can be understood
• FINDING SOLUTIONS: Small houses open in Augusta for foster kids
• FINDING SOLUTIONS: Scout troop created to keep kids from violence
• FINDING SOLUTIONS: Center helps men through recovery process
• FINDING SOLUTIONS: Foster kids get own bags for belongings

That’s when the Y opens its doors, and its after-school programs are open to anyone in need of emergency childcare.

Not only is it a lifesaver for families who don’t have childcare options, but it also helps fill the gap of missing school meals.

“In those cases, we do breakfast, lunch and snacks for the kids in our programs,” said Wirt.

It’s an issue Wirt first discovered at summer camp when kids were hungry because school was out.

And Cheryl’s Kitchen, named after its brainchild, was born.

“That’s what the Y is all about, community and how we can serve,” said Wirt.

Cheryl’s Kitchen has grown and evolved depending on the need.

“It kind of just opened our eyes during the pandemic of what the need truly was,” she said.

So, they went to work to find different solutions, including partnering with Golden Harvest for mobile food pantries and stationary ones.

“Each one of our YMCAs is a food pantry. We’ve partnered with Golden Harvest, so we have food available at all of our Y locations across the CSRA,” said Wirt.

They’ve seen the need skyrocket.

“With food prices going up, and people can’t afford food quite the way they could, just trying to fill that gap,” said Wirt.

So, if families find themselves short on the budget this week or any week because of unexpected days out of school, that’s another option, so no child misses a meal.

If you need food, you can stop by any Family Y Branch location Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for food pickup.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.