GALLIPOLIS — With unemployment approaching the 10 percent mark and 31 percent of local residents receiving some form of public assistance, Gallia County residents are facing tough times — with children quite possibly facing the greatest difficulty of all.

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, in 2008, 2,878 children (age group 0-19) in Gallia County received monthly assistance through the Food Assistance program administered by the State of Ohio. That amounts to nearly 37 percent of the children and teenagers who live in the county, according to the 2008 U.S. Census, which reported that 7,873 county residents were in the 0-19 age group.

Despite state and federal assistance, many children in Gallia County go to bed hungry on a regular basis.

Some local groups — churches, civic organizations — have stepped in to provide aid. The Gallia County Snack Pack Organization is one of those groups trying to make an impact in the lives of children.

Nancy Smith, chairperson of Gallia County Snack Pack, said she caught the vision for helping Gallia County children from an article she read in USA Today in September 2007.

“(The article) talked about how the program was going on in about 40 states across the country and what a need there was for kids that were being subsidized with free meals, free lunches and breakfast in a lot of programs, but over the weekend they did without,” Smith said. “When they came in (to school) on Monday they were extremely hungry and it took teachers a while to get the kids back to where they could study.”

Smith said she was moved by the story and decided to talk to school nurses in Gallia County about the issue.

“When I talked to the school nurses they told me there was truly a problem,” Smith said. “Cathy Elliott (school nurse at Rio Grande Elementary) told me that they had several instances of kids coming in on Monday being really hungry.”

Smith said she and other concerned residents involved with Snack Pack approached the Gallipolis City School District to find out how many children were receiving free or reduced lunch.

“We decided to pilot the program at Rio Grande and see how well it went,” she said.

Smith said Gallia County Snack Pack delivered its first packs of food — 85 total — to Rio Grande Elementary on Feb. 29, 2008. Since that time the group has widened its circle of influence to include Hannan Trace, Vinton, Washington and Southwestern elementary schools in its delivery network, which translates to more than 500 children receiving food packs each month.

“In September, we delivered about 520 packs, and this last time we were really close to 600,” Smith said.

Addaville Elementary is scheduled to join to the Gallia County Snack Pack network in January 2010 with Green Elementary expected to be on board later in the year.

According to Smith, Gallia County Snack Pack has received strong support from many local churches, businesses and civic organizations that have donated food and funds to the effort.

Food items distributed each month include shelf-stable milk, fruit juice, cereal packs or bars, pop-top meals, peanut butter, crackers, pudding or fruit cups, single-serving macaroni and cheese, and fresh fruit when available.

Smith said children who participate in the free and reduced lunch programs at participating schools are eligible to receive assistance from Gallia County Snack Pack. Parental permission and information regarding allergies is required. Student confidentiality is maintained by participating schools.

Gallia County Snack Pack is a 501C3 non-profit organization. All donations to the group are tax deductible.

For information, contact Nancy Smith at 446-3939. Donations can be mailed to Gallia County Snack Pack Organization, P.O. Box 169, Gallipolis, OH 45631.