Scioto County Commissioners agreed to provide $150,000 to a local hunger organization called Daily Bread, which is based in Rarden.
Commission Chairman Scottie Powell said, “We don’t hear much from that part of the county. It’s my stomping grounds, where I grew up. The people out there, they see a problem and they tackle it. You don’t hear an ask. You never hear of people reaching out.”
Daily Bread operates out of the Rarden Community Center and provides daily hot meals for hundreds of people. According to Powell, “People show up and say they need five meals and they are more than happy to hand them out.”
Powell said the effort was all the more impressive as the organization doesn’t have a kitchen. “These men and women are cooking in their homes and then they are bringing food in and serving it out.”
He said the organization is also delivering food to the elderly. He said that part of Scioto County is heavily affected by poverty. “They saw a need and stepped up and filled it.”
Powell said the organization was running into scheduling conflicts with the busy community center and that there was a property adjacent to the community center that would allow them to have a kitchen and better storage.
The $150,000 in funds would allow them to buy the property and get it ready for their operations.
Powell said that part of Scioto County rarely asks for money. The money will come out of ARPA funds. He said the organization was so low-key that many people didn’t even know it existed. “They just put their head down and serve their community. Not for recognition or anything like that. Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Commissioners said they were impressed at all the group was able to achieve with limited resources and volunteers.
Commissioner Bryan Davis called the group “inspiring” and said the funds should enable them to do a lot more for people. “I believe it will really service and help the historically marginalized community out there.”
