CLEVELAND, Ohio — Hunger Action Month is underway this September and with help from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank pantry, one nonprofit organization is helping provide food for families in local communities.

What You Need To Know

  • The food pantry rotates between the three Horizon Education Centers campuses

  • People who need food only have to show an ID to get a box

  • Horizon Education Centers also has child care programs for parents who have to work while their children attend school virtually

David Smith is the executive director for Horizon Education Centers in Cleveland. He said this mobile food pantry is supported by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Around 200 families come to get the boxes filled with produce. Three times a month, families can visit one of Horizon's campuses to get a box.

"We have pre-packaged fruits and vegetables primarily because the area is very much a food desert as far as like the lack of grocery stores and affordable, really affordable, fruits and vegetables for people in the Clark-Fulton area," said Smith.

The free mobile food pantry takes place from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Drivers pull up to the pantry and only have to show their ID to get a box. Latasha Clark stopped by the pantry Thursday and said the food helps them stretch what they already have at home

"It helps me feed my kids, my grandkids. I have a father-in-law that lives with us. A little sickly. But it helps. Every little bit helps," said Clark.

But Horizon Education Centers not only helps provide food to the community—they're also helping parents who need child care while they're working since their kids are doing virtual learning.

"During the day, when the children are here when school is virtual, we have WiFi so the kids can bring their chromebooks or tablets in, and then we have it setup so they'll be supervised but we also have activities for the kids to do," said Smith.

Horizon offers child care for children who are just six weeks old to 12 years old. Smith said they also work closely with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Since the center is open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., they also provide other programs to help keep kids busy.

"We do cooking and baking. We do lots of stem stuff with the kids. Gardening. The whole nine yards," said Smith.

For more information on Horizon Education Center's child care, you can click here. You can also visit their social media to find out information on the next food pantry.