The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is inviting residents, community leaders, volunteers, churches, civic groups, and interested partners to attend upcoming community meetings to learn more about a proposed meal program for southern Hamilton County.
The proposed Southern Hamilton County Community Meals Program is being explored to support food access, prepared meals, home delivery, community meal opportunities, and connection for residents who may benefit from additional support.
The Foundation is hosting these meetings to share the concept, gather feedback, and determine whether there is enough interest, need, and volunteer support to continue developing the program.
“This program is still in the planning stage,” said Darcy Swon, Executive Director of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation. “Before anything moves forward, we want to hear directly from the communities it may serve. These meetings are an opportunity to share the idea, answer questions, gather feedback, and determine whether a program like this is needed and realistic.”
Community meetings currently scheduled include:
Stratford
Monday, August 31
5 PM
Shakespeare Community Center
Jewell
Tuesday, September 1
Bethesda Lutheran Church
Tuesday Potluck Lunch begins at noon
Program will begin around 12:30 PM
All are welcome and encouraged to bring a dish to share but not required.
Stanhope
Thursday, September 3
4:30 PM
Stanhope Community Center
The proposed program is initially being discussed for the communities of Jewell, Stanhope, and Stratford, with the possibility of serving additional southern Hamilton County communities if there is interest, identified need, and enough volunteer support.
Preliminary conversations have included the possibility of prepared meals, home delivery, community meal opportunities, and connection to additional resources. Hamilton County Public Health is expected to be an important partner in helping with participant screening, referrals, and connecting residents to available support.
The Foundation’s role is to bring people together around the table, help identify community needs and possible solutions, and provide charitable giving support if the program moves forward. The Foundation would not be responsible for day-to-day meal ordering, billing, participant accounts, or delivery coordination.
Community input will be an important part of determining whether the program will continue moving forward and what it will look like in each community.
Residents, family members, caregivers, churches, civic groups, local businesses, potential volunteers, and anyone interested in food access in southern Hamilton County are encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Darcy Swon, Executive Director of the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, at 515-835-0437 or dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.