Ohio PTAs and schools work to close food gaps during winter break

By Farah Siddiqi

As schools across Ohio move through winter break, parent-teacher associations said food insecurity remains a pressing concern for families when students lose access to school meals.

The national PTA recently announced emergency grant funding for select PTAs nationwide, as local groups work to fill gaps during extended school closures.

Nicole Lesnick, president of the Ohio PTA, said local PTAs across the state are responding to increased need in their communities.

"We know that families are hungry and that they need to eat," Lesnick observed. "One of the important things is that we want to be a relevant resource in our communities."

Lesnick pointed out Ohio has more than 400 local PTA units and councils, many of which organize food drives, care closets and partnerships with local food pantries to support families during school breaks. The national PTA said more than 40 million people nationwide receive SNAP benefits, with children making up nearly 40% of participants.

Advocates said even brief gaps in federal funding or school closures can leave families struggling to meet basic food needs. Ohio educators said the gaps show up quickly once students return to school.

Andrea Beeman, paraeducator for Maple Heights City Schools, said the effect on students is evident.

"If you’re not eating dinner the night before, you are anxiously waiting to get into the building to make sure you have something to fill your stomach up," Beeman explained. "The first thing I ask them is that, ‘did you eat?’ And many of them will say 'no.'"

Beeman added hunger affects students’ ability to focus and engage in the classroom, making access to food a critical part of learning readiness. The national PTA said it will continue urging lawmakers to prioritize child nutrition as Congress debates long-term federal funding. Ohio PTA leaders said local school-based and community efforts remain essential to helping students stay healthy and ready to learn during extended breaks.