As Feed Lucas County Children, a nonprofit combating childhood hunger in the area, celebrates its 10th anniversary and millionth meal served, some big expansion plans are in the works.
For five years, the nonprofit has run out of the old Macomber High School building, 1501 Monroe St., where it can prepare up to 7,000 meals daily to be shipped out. As part of $1.5 million expansion, Feed Lucas County Children (FLCC) has plans to move into a 20,000-25,000-square-foot facility, giving it the capability of making 21,000 meals per day.
“We’ve been blessed with wonderful donors over the past 10 years and now that the word’s getting out, we’re seeing more and more people realizing this is a huge impact that we can have,” said Emily Laurel, development coordinator for FLCC. At press time, the FLCC board was still finalizing the exact location of the new kitchen and whether it will be a rehabbed or newly constructed facility, she said.
Laurel said that the goal is for FLCC to be in its new location by Jan. 1, 2013.
“All of our electricity and all of our gas lines are just completely maxed out. We can’t add more equipment so we need a bigger kitchen,” she said. “Time is of the essence for us because this building is deteriorating so the sooner, the better.”
FLCC’s new home will also include a serving area so it can feed children on site and potentially be rented out by other groups. The nonprofit, known for its nutritious meals, also plans to host cooking classes on how to make healthy meals with resources on hand, Laurel said.
Over its history, state officials have recognized FLCC for its contributions to feeding children, said Tony Siebeneck, FLCC’s executive director and founder. When he started FLCC in 2002, it served 7,231 meals at two sites during its first summer and operated out of area churches. Now it prepares up to 7,000 meals daily at 80 locations.
“When we started this, we really didn’t know what was going to happen … we did not realize it was going to get this large,” Siebeneck said, adding that one reason his nonprofit is so successful is because of its commitment to one cause.
Siebeneck became aware of Lucas County’s childhood hunger rate through reading articles. “I didn’t believe it. I just thought, ‘Ah, here’s another bleeding heart story,’” he said. After research, he realized the extent of childhood hunger and decided to do something about it. He left his job in the agriculture industry and started FLCC.
“I loved [my old job], but I got kind of tired of working for corporate America and I thought most people talk about helping others, but they really don’t do anything about it. I just kind of felt, ‘Let’s not be a talker, let’s be a doer,’” he said. Siebeneck spent much of his own cash on FLCC and nearly became bankrupt.
“I’ve put a lot my personal financing and time and energy into this way back 10 years ago. It came with a lot of hard knocks, but it was well worth it,” he said.
Siebeneck grew up on a farm near Bellefontaine, Ohio, and has his own experience with hunger.
“I grew up hungry. I knew what it was like to go without,” he said.
FLCC’s success was set to be celebrated Aug. 24 at the Believe Center, 1 Aurora Gonzalez Drive. The Believe Center, which stresses the importance of family involvement, also has plans for the future. This fall, it plans to offer a women’s eight-week full figure fitness program, which includes yoga, Zumba, healthy cooking classes and childcare, said Juanita Duran, who operates the center with her family. The Duran family started a sports program 15 years ago, but transitioned to include other programming in May after moving into the Aurora Gonzalez Building and taking on a new name.
“It’s important that children and the parents are coming to the event this Friday because we want everyone to be together,” said Duran, who used her social work expertise to expand programming. The center will also offer several other activities this fall, including Parkour.
The Aug. 24 event was also set to include a bouncy house, an obstacle course and prize giveaways, Laurel said. Other social service agencies were also expected to be on site to distribute information and the Believe Center had school supplies for children accompanied by their parents.
Despite a very successful tenure, Siebeneck said FLCC has more work to do as there are an estimated 25,000 hungry children in Lucas County. However, he and Laurel have high hopes.
“Once we get this kitchen, which we will, we’re going to hit that 2 million (meal) mark and it’s not going to take 10 years, it’s going to take less than three,” he said.
The expansion project coupled with help from FLCC’s partnering agencies has the potential to eliminate childhood hunger in the area, Laurel said. Still, more volunteers, awareness and funds are needed.
“You can educate people, you can talk to people about us, you can post on Facebook about us … you can come down and donate your time, donate your money, donate your ideas,” she said.
For more information, visit http://www.feedlucaschildren.org/.
