The university’s Kids on Campus program recently received the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sunshine Award as the most innovative program in the special populations category for summer meal projects.
The program, which provides nutritious meals and educatio nal summer programming to Athens County elementary-age children from low-income families, was nominated for the award by the Midwest division of the Summer Food Program. Nominees from seven regional divisions competed for the national award.
“We are different from a lot of programs because we focus on the whole child and not just the nutritional aspect,” said Angie Cantrell, director of Kids on Campus. “For a child to feel successful and to enjoy the program, we do things that are fun and educational.”
Kids on Campus also provides participants with health services such as hearing, vision and physical screenings. The program began in 1996 and last summer served 440 children. It is a collaboration between the university, five area school districts and Hocking College.
