An Unexpected Partnership Helps Create a “Home Away from Home” for Kids
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati has been changing lives for kids in need since 1939. When Bill Bresser took the reins as CEO in 2018, he began to consider what the future might bring for the organization and its impact on the community.
At the time, developing a relationship with UMCFood wasn’t on his to-do list, but every good story includes a few surprises. What started as a conversation between Bresser and Pastor Larry has become what Bresser now calls one of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ most important partnerships.
Thanks to UMCFood, Bresser and his team have a greater sense of stability and peace of mind, knowing they no longer have to stress about anything related to feeding the kids they serve. Gone are the days of worrying about things like access to fresh food and labor expenses, which had been ongoing concerns for the organization in the past.
The Boys & Girls Clubs have been able to maintain a high level of quality service that would not have been possible without the help of UMCFood. The partnership has allowed the organization to focus on and expand its mission of providing educational programs that help young people reach their full potential. This additional capacity has freed staff to grow learning and outreach opportunities, ensure consistency, and maintain student attendance and engagement.
For the kids who call this their “home away from home,” the chance to sit down for a hot meal with friends is everything. They come to do homework and hang out, but the food changes the game. UMCFood enhances the experience—making sure kids get a nutritious meal, plus the chance to learn about new foods, how to cook them, and ways to keep themselves healthy.
In total, UMCFood serves about 120,000 meals to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati each year, saving the organization roughly $100,000 annually. The program provides after-school snacks and hot dinners for kids across nine sites throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.
