CHOP Updates

In a world where we’re focusing on SNAP can we also raise our voices for universal free breakfast and lunch programs?

In Pennsylvania, more than 13% of children are said to experience food insecurity, meaning they are unsure where their next meal will come from. These statistics only capture reported numbers, but based on the work we conduct daily and the stigma around food insecurity, it is most likely much higher.

Why does this matter? Because across the nation we are hearing about the impact of SNAP benefits dropping back to pre-2020 amounts, while families still face expensive grocery bills. While we are focusing on SNAP, children of all ages are literally going hungry when we already have a solution at our fingertips.

The answer? Universal school meals.

Currently, Pennsylvania offers free breakfasts to all students whose schools participate in the National School Breakfast Program but that does not include school lunches. 53% of school-age children qualify for free lunch or reduced lunch prices. However, this is still problematic for multiple reasons. The first is that if students are food insecure and only receive a free breakfast they are likely not eating again until the next school day. Secondly, there is stigma associated with “free” or “reduced” meals simply because of the name. When they are just “school meals” there’s no shame in opting in.

We are advocating for free school meals to be expanded to include every child, regardless of income. When we open our programs to all students, we see more engagement and we see the stigma typically associated with food insecurity removed. The best part is that these children learn to advocate for their own needs.

We have the power to cost-effectively reduce childhood hunger locally and nationally by implementing universal free breakfast and lunch programs for all students. We’re asking our friends and neighbors to join us in our fight against hunger by urging local and state representatives to pursue free school meals for all.

Respectfully,

Dani Ruhf
Executive Director and Founder of Child Hunger Outreach Partners

Logan’s Christmas for the Children Giving Campaign took place during the 2021 holiday season. The campaign was held in memory of Logan Abbott, who tragically lost his life in a motor vehicle accident on July 21, 2021. The Abbott Family approached Child Hunger Outreach Partners to set up a memorial fund in memory of Logan. The donations received were designated specifically to help provide Christmas gifts to children within our community.

In the past, leading up to each Christmas, Logan would work with local agencies independently to assure local children woke up to gifts under their tree. With a list in hand, Logan would shop, wrap and deliver the gifts back to the agencies or directly to the families, often delivering right up to Christmas Eve.

CHOP is honored that the Abbott Family selected the organization to help continue the legacy of Logan’s generosity. During the 2021 holiday season, CHOP was able to provide gifts for five local families within Bradford County, including 11 children.    

Logan had a huge heart, and it is with great hope that this fund will continue to support local children for years to come. The family of Logan Abbott wishes to thank all those that donated, and for their continued community support.

Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP) is honored to be the recipient of Scooter’s Food Drive that will run Feb. 14 through March 18, 2022. Funds and non-perishable food items collected during the drive will benefit CHOP’s programs, including In-School Pantries, the Backpack Program, Pop Up Pantries and Summer Meal Program.

Bill Joseph Snyder, III, known as Scooter to many, was deeply dedicated to the community, including to Stuff The Bus, which helps CHOP collect nonperishable food each fall.

“Dani Ruff, of CHOP, identified the winter months as being their slowest donation time. We wanted to carry on with something that was so important to Bill, had a list of people that he wanted to memorialize with a food drive, now we will hold this one for him. We hope that future food drives will honor both Bill and someone from his list.”

“Scooter’s involvement in Stuff The Bus was vital to the success of the event,” shared Dani Rufh, CHOP CEO and Founder. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Scooter, but are all simply better for knowing him.”

Donations of nonperishable good will be accepted at drop boxes at each of  the following businesses:

• Jones’ Store in Warren Center, Pa.
• Friendship Star Quilt Shop and FWF Wellness in Sayre, Pa.
• Oalmer Manufactured Homes in Waverly, N.Y.
• Ad Graphics in Milan, Pa.
• Western Alliance Emergency Services in Troy, Pa.
• The Hair Mill and Wysox Merchant Center in Wysox, Pa.

Online donations are also being accepted as part of the drive and can be made by clicking here.

If a business or organization would like to be a donation drop-off site or if anyone would like to volunteer to help with Scooter’s Food Drive, contact Liz Terwilliger at 570-731-0822 or email.

Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP) will be hosting Purse Lotto during the month of February to help raise funds for our programs.

“I got the idea from purse bingos that I see organizations do. Our service area is so large, and I wanted to be able to include everyone, so we went with a virtual model. Now, I have people from all over the country participating!” said Dani Ruhf, Executive Director/Founder.

Tickets are 2 for $25, with no cap on ticket purchases. All proceeds stay local to help children through our Backpack Program, In-School Pantries, Summer Meals and Pop Up Pantries.

Live drawings begin Feb. 1 and are held daily all month long. Non-local winners will have their purse shipped to them.

To look at the purses, visit the Purse Lotto Facebook group. Winners will be posted nightly in the group.

To purchase tickets for the event, visit www.chopouthunger.org/take-action/purse-lotto/ 

“The majority of our funding comes from grants, but we use the purse lotto money to fill in the gaps or to run programs that pop up, or to bring on new schools quickly before funding has been established.  We can feed a child for a month for $5 so every purse lotto ticket equates to five children,” said Ruhf.