Hilliard, OH – March 15, 2025
Meals of Hope, a national nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity, celebrated the grand opening of its Ohio chapter on Saturday, March 15th, with a highly successful meal-packing event in Hilliard. In partnership with the Hilliard Food Pantry, Kiwanis Club of Hilliard, and the Hilliard United Methodist Church, nearly 200 volunteers packed over 50,000 nutritious meals for Central Ohio families.
The event, held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., marked the official launch of Meals of Hope’s presence in Ohio. Spearheaded by Hilliard resident Jen Markewicz and her family, the event brought together nearly 200 volunteers from multiple different organizations, including McKesson, Hilliard Church of Christ, Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, Parker Hannifin, and Hilliard Davidson High School to address the growing need for food assistance in the region.
Meals of Hope has a 17-year history of organizing community-driven meal-packing events across the United States. To date, the organization has mobilized over 250,000 volunteers and packed more than 100 million meals. The Ohio chapter aims to continue this impactful work by providing local organizations with a tangible way to support their communities.
“Our goal for volunteer turnout was 100 people. When nearly 200 people showed up, I was overwhelmed with emotion and pride for my Central Ohio Community,” said Jen Markewicz. “The event was full of energy, excitement, and people working together for 2 hours to pack 5 pallets of a pasta meal that will be distributed right here in our community. Over 50,000 meals!”
The packed meals will be distributed through the Hilliard Food Pantry and Kiwanis Club of Hilliard to food-insecure families in Central Ohio. Meals of Hope in Ohio is now open and actively seeking partnerships with organizations interested in hosting future meal-packing events. These events offer a unique team-building experience while directly addressing food insecurity.
Organizations interested in volunteering or hosting a Meals of Hope event can contact the Ohio chapter at (614) 636-1026 or visit https://mealsofhope.org/ohiosouth/. Meals of Hope is available to set up events anywhere and encourages any organization looking to make a direct impact on their community to reach out.
About Meals of Hope:
Meals of Hope is a national nonprofit organization that empowers communities to combat hunger through hands-on meal-packing events. For over 15 years, Meals of Hope has brought together volunteers from businesses, organizations, and communities to package nutritious meals for those in need.
Contact:
Jen Markewicz
VP of Community Development
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmarkewicz/
(614) 636-1026