Fairhaven School Gets Record $10K Grant for Food Program

NILES, Ohio – The Fairhaven School has received $10,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities toward the launch of a backpack program, providing students with meals on weekends and holidays. 

The donation is the largest ever received by Fairhaven and represents a third of the total needed to launch the program.

“ ‘Grateful’ would not adequately describe my feelings today,” said Ryan McNaughton, executive director of Fairhaven Foundation, in a statement. “We are extremely thankful to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for believing in Lindsey’s vision.” 

The proposal was crafted by Lindsey Ison, Fairhaven School cafeteria supervisor. The school is operated by the Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also known as The Fairhaven Program, and serves students with disabilities. 

The Fairhaven Bulldog Backpack Program will provide the approximately 140 at-risk students who receive free or reduced lunches with three meals per day on weekends and holidays, helping to defer some of the costs for families. 

Volunteers from the school and community will begin working on the program in August.

“The Fairhaven program has many ways it gives back to our community,” Ison said in a statement. “In my research, I chose the program because I felt it would have the most impact for our students. I am beyond grateful for the generosity of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.” 

The donation provides the Fairhaven Bulldog Backpack program a solid foundation for the continued development of the initiative, said Edward Stark, superintendent at Fairhaven School. 

“The Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Fairhaven School are grateful to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for their generous donation,” he said. “This donation provides the Fairhaven Bulldog Backpack Program a solid foundation for the continued development of this much-needed initiative.”

The Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities has served residents of Trumbull County for more than 50 years. The board provides services such as employment, education and training to approximately 1,100 people living with developmental disabilities. 

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.