By Gail Ebey, Medina Library Children’s Department Supervisor

The Main branch of Medina County District Library is located in the lovely historic square of the city of Medina, Ohio. It is convenient to walk to, especially from the neighboring elementary school.

In 2017, the Children’s Department staff began working with Feeding Medina County, a non-profit organization helping to feed families in need, to offer snacks to the after-school visitors seen at the library. Feeding Medina County provides jars of peanut butter and other snack provisions for staff to use when feeding visitors to the library. They also pack “Weekender Bags” that are sent home with kids during the school year.

We started working with Feeding Medina County to pair the food in the bags with cooking demos at the library.  We know peanut butter is a monthly inclusion, so I have made a point to share simple recipes during our “snack attacks” that kids can reproduce. We have had some local chefs stop in and create food with the kids as well.  One session over the summer, we made salsa. Feeding Medina County provided fresh peppers and tomatoes grown in their garden. Another session had us making pancakes in the microwave!

Library staff are a positive connection in the lives of these children. We have a “question of the day” interaction with them and have increased the use of “Please” and “Thank You” in the students who visit.  It’s an amazing program!

In 2017 we provided over 7,000 snacks.
In 2018 we provided over 17,500 snacks, quite an increase!

For more information:
“Feeding Medina County serves up snacks for kids at Medina Library”

Photo captions:
1. Weekender Bags at Feeding Medina County
2. Feeding Medina County warehouse