Inflation and high gas prices have made life difficult for many people throughout the region, but the good news is that the Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation and William M. Neckerman, Jr. Foundation presented the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley with a $40,000 donation, $20,000 from each foundation, to help feed the children in the Valley with the help of United Way’s Success By 6 and After 6 initiatives. 

The money with go towards feeding children in 19 school districts in Mahoning County as well as Girard, Liberty, and Hubbard that participate in the United Way's early education initiatives.

The 'Success By 6' program provides pre-kindergarten readiness programming and resources, while Success After 6 provides wraparound services after school and summer programs.

The donation is to help feed children during the summer break.

“Jim Sisek, trustee of the Lamb and Neckerman foundations, and Rye Dalton, trustee of the Neckerman foundation, were the first to reach out to us when the pandemic hit, and they have been with us ever since helping those in need,” said Bob Hannon, President of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. “Things are not getting any easier for our families with inflation, so this will be a huge boost for them as they try to put food on their tables for young children this summer.”

United Way assists with food insecurity through its Success After 6 initiative by providing food pantries in several schools, holiday food giveaways, dinners and snacks for all afterschool programs, as well as its monthly Satur-Day of Caring that delivers to families who cannot get out of their home.

United Way said the donations from the Jane F. Lamb and William M. Neckerman Charitable Foundations have helped its organization to provide food for thousands of children and their families.