STEUBENVILLE — The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley held its annual donor luncheon, in which Sycamore Youth Center’s Michelle Clum was a panelist invited to represent the nonprofit in discussing the state of food insecurity in Jefferson County.

The organization was created to facilitate philanthropy in the Upper Ohio Valley region with an endowment of more than $10 million.

Clum presented the root causes of food insecurity, how it affects the children we serve and what is being done at Sycamore Youth Center to mitigate the problem. She noted the county has a 17.2 percent rate of food insecurity, which is higher than surrounding counties. In 2023, approximately 10,660 residents, including 2,930 children, experienced food insecurity — higher than expected, as food insecurity is not the same as hunger.

“While children living in urban areas are hungry, the new poverty is being hidden,” Clum stated. “While residents are eating, they are filling their bodies with empty calories and processed foods. Yes, they are gaining weight, but are starving themselves for the nutrients they need to function properly and stay healthy.”

The cause is a debatable topic. Bringing jobs to the area would reduce the rate of poverty that contributes to the problem. However, the economic decline in the area is only part of the challenge. Having 52 percent of women in the workforce, families have little time to prepare fresh meals, having to turn to fast and processed foods. To complicate matters, the food we think is healthy for us may not actually be good for our bodies, Clum said. 

Because of benefactors and volunteers, the Sycamore center is at the front lines making a difference in the community. Heading up the nutrition initiatives, Clum exclaimed, “We have over 150 cooking classes every year where we provide children with nutrition education through cooking classes. One of our cooking teachers, Salvador Brambila, is a graduate of the esteemed Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Pasadena. The children learn about food safety, proper cooking techniques and how to make fresh nutritious meals. We hope to inspire some of these children to pursue a career in the restaurant and food service industry.”

Volunteers, along with the Sycamore Corps, make it possible to provide 10,000 meals to area youths every year. Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director, stated. “We have our mobile food pantry ready to distribute 10,000 meals this summer directly to our neighborhood youth. The program will run from June 6 to Aug. 8 throughout Steubenville and Wintersville.” 

“The good news is there is something we can all do to overcome these challenges,” Bauman concluded, noting those who would like to help can visit sycamorecenter.com.