Serving the community of Copley Township & the Copley-Fairlawn City Schools
HISTORY
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. (It's official title is Copley United Methodist Church TA Copley Outreach). 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:
- Monthly Food Assistance in perishable & non-perishable food items.
- Copley-Fairlawn Cares Program, provides weekend & weekly food assitance.
- 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.
Hunger in Our Community
As costs for basic necessities remain goes up, individuals and families in our community often choose between purchasing food and paying for rent, utilities, transportation and health care. Our most vulnerable populations are impacted the most, they include children under the age of 18 and senior citizens, many of whom are attempting to live on a fixed income.
Food insecurity refers to the USDA’s measure of lack of regular access to nutritional food for an active and healthy life.
In Summit County
- Food Insecurity is Estimated: 12.5% or 67,760 individuals and 18.5% or 21,030 children
- Food Assistance Impact: 10,021,820 lbs = 8,351,516 meals
In Our School System
- School Enrollment 2024: 2,697
- Food Insecurity is estimated at: Approx. 400 students
Food insecurity refers to the USDA’s measure of lack of regular access to nutritional food for an active and healthy life. Learn more about food insecurity.
- 44.3% of households visiting Ohio’s food banks have at least one member under 18
- 34.7% of households visiting Ohio’s food banks have at least one member over 60
- 38.1% of household visiting Ohio’s food banks include at least one disabled member