Providing Food Security One Meal at a Time

 Since opening our doors at the Teen Preperation Center, we’ve made it a priority to provide a hot meal for anyone who walks through our doors. Often, it’s as simple as a cup of instant ramen and a variety of snacks, but our teens have always been grateful for even the basics.

This November, we decided it was time for a change. With rising concerns around food security in our community, we launched a MealTrain program to invite local volunteers to bring in hot meals for our teens, allowing us to offer more nutritious and filling options.

Our very first MealTrain meal was delivered by none other than Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, who encouraged us to start this program. The mayor and her husband, Terry Ogle, brought generous trays of lasagna, salad, garlic bread and brownies, meals our teens enjoyed with enthusiasm. Since then, we’ve received another ten MealTrain deliveries, each offering something new and delicious for our teens to enjoy.

These hot meals provide more than nutrition; they create community. While our teen center has seating for 12 across three tables, MealTrain days look a little different. We move into one of our larger rooms so everyone can sit together, share a meal, and connect. Any leftovers are served the following day, offering another chance for a teen to enjoy a hot meal they may not have had otherwise. Over the course of November, we were able to provide roughly hot 450 hot meals to our teens.

While we still have days when instant noodles make an appearance (with few complaints from our teens), we’re deeply grateful for the love and support our community has shown through the MealTrain program. Interested in bringing in a meal or donating? Visit our MealTrain page to sign up!