ABOUT US
What is the Copley Outreach Center?
The Copley Outreach Center was founded in June of 1995 by the Copley United Methodist Church and Guardian Angels Catholic Church. The Center provides emergency food assistance to families who find themselves food insecure in Copley Township and in the Copley-Fairlawn City School District. The Copley Outreach is privately funded and volunteer-driven.
COPLEY OUTREACH CENTER SERVICES INCLUDE:
- Food Assistance in perishable & non-perishable food items.
- Seasonal Gift Cards* in place of food baskets we are giving gift cards from ACME, Aldi's and Giant Eagle.
- Easter
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
*Families must sign-up to receive Seasonal Cards and pick up during scheduled times.
- Support the Copley Share-A-Christmas:
- Families can sign-up at the Copley Township Townhall, if they have children 18 years or younger.
- Outreach Center for families with no children.
What is the Copley-FAIRLAWN CARES PROGRAM?
Copley-Fairlawn Cares is a volunteer program in cooperation with the Copley Outreach Center that addressed food insecurity in children in the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools. The program was started in 2019 as a co-operative effort between the community and the schools, funded through donations from the greater Copley and Fairlawn areas and the Copley Outreach Center.
- Through the Schools, students are identified and can opt into the program.
- The program provides weekend bags of food to students K-12, during the school year. A Copley-Fairlawn Cares pack contains 2 breakfast and 2 lunch items, plus 2 snacks for the weekend. The items are single serving size, easily opened and prepared, such as an oatmeal packet, mac, and cheese, canned fruit, raisins, etc.
The Summer Kids Program is an extension of the Copley-Fairlawn Cares Program, providing weekly boxes of food for students and to help supplement the family.
- Through the school district, students are identified and are able to opt into the program.
FOOD FACTS
- Food insecurity refers to the USDA'S measure of lack of regular access to nutritional food for an active & healthy life.
- It is reported that 20% of the children in Summit County are food insecure; approximately 20% of the children in grades K - 12 of the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools receive Free or Reduced Lunches.
- Weekend food programs are designed to supplement the students' educational process. The link between hunger and education is undeniable. Children who go hungry are more likely to exhibit higher levels of anxiety, irritability, hyperactivity and aggression, which affects all-around school performance.
- Research has shown that children participating in weekend food programs achieve better test scores, have improved reading skills, positive behavior, and improved health and attendance.