A hot September day in 2018 provided Amy Neff with a reason to start the group Feeding Fairport’s Hungry. It was on Sept. 4 of that year when Fairport Harbor School District closed for the day because of excessive heat outdoors, coupled with no air conditioning in its schools. Neff, a parent of children in the district, said the announcement prompted some comments on Facebook, noting that the extreme-heat day meant kids would miss more than classes. “Some parents were expressing concern that a lot of kids go to school and get a free meal, and they might not have access to that meal when school is closed,” she said. Neff then added to the Facebook conversation. She suggested that the community unite to fill the needs of children who were in danger of missing regular meals when school was not in session. Her post drew plenty of replies. “A lot of people were like, “ ‘I can help.’ ‘I’ll help out, too,’ ” Neff said. “And so then I’m like, ‘OK, let’s make something of this.’ And so I created the Feeding Fairport’s Hungry Facebook page.” Neff also launched an all-volunteer group of the same name that dedicated its efforts to supplying supplemental meals and snacks to families in need, particularly children, in Fairport Harbor. Six years later, Feeding Fairport’s Hungry is still going strong under Neff’s leadership. The group has become known for holding events such as a free lunch program during the summer and delivery of Thanksgiving meal boxes. In addition, Feeding Fairport’s Hungry has sponsored events focusing on nonfood items, including clothing and school supply drives. Neff said Feeding Fairport’s Hungry doesn’t require people who seek help to meet any qualifications. “We just make it open to everybody,” she said. “You don’t have to say, ‘Hey, I lost my job,’ or ‘This is my income.’ “We don’t ask any questions. We make it inclusive to everyone, then people don’t have that stigma.” Feeding Fairpor’s Hungry’s first organized event was its Thanksgiving meal drive in November 2018. The organization requests donations of frozen turkeys, as well other types of food that round out a Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers then gather to assemble meal boxes and pair them with frozen turkeys for people who are signed up as recipients. “It’s kind of fun for people to cook the meal as a family, so that they can still experience that,” she said. The Fairport Harbor Police and Fire departments get involved by picking up and delivering the turkeys and Thanksgiving meal components. “I love how they help out every year,” Neff said. Volunteers gather to sort and pack donations for the 2022 Thanksgiving meal box drive sponsored by Feeding Fairport’s Hungry. One of the participants was Feeding Fairport’s Hungry founder and leader Amy Neff (kneeling in front row, third from left). Feeding Fairport’s Hungry recently marked its sixth anniversary. The all-volunteer group provides supplemental meals and snacks to families in need, particularly children, in Fairport Harbor. (Courtesy of Amy Neff) The Thanksgiving meal drive has become an annual event for Feeding Fairport’s Hungry. Feeding Fairport’s Hungry sponsored its summer lunch program for the first time in 2019. The meals were served in the basement of Fairport Harbor Public Library. “The turnout wasn’t huge that summer,” Neff recalled. Feeding Fairport’s Hungry didn’t bring back the summer lunch program until 2024. This time, the meals were served at Fairport Harbor Congregational Church. “We provided summer lunches once a week to alleviate that missing meal (that children weren’t getting in school),” Neff said. “And we would offer snack items for these families to take home. Whatever they could utilize throughout the week. And that was a huge help to families.” A volunteer serves food during one of the summer lunches sponsored by Feeding Fairport’s Hungry in 2024. Those free lunches were offered once a week at Fairport Harbor Congregational Church. Feeding Fairport’s Hungry recently marked its sixth anniversary. The all-volunteer group provides supplemental meals and snacks to families in need, particularly children, in Fairport Harbor. (Courtesy of Amy Neff) Attendance at the summer lunches in 2024 averaged about 40 to 45 individuals per session, compared with anywhere from a handful of people to 15 who turned out for each lunch in 2019 at the library, she said. As November begins, Neff is keeping busy with coordinating efforts for three events. First, Feeding Fairport’s Hungry is conducting a winter coat and clothing drive for children.The group is seeking donations of “new and gently used coats, hats and gloves to be distributed to children in need this year,” according to a Facebook post. In addition, Feeding Fairport’s Hungry is seeking donations of frozen turkeys and other foods for its Thanksgiving meal box drive. The group also is unveiling a new event on Thanksgiving Day. “We are doing our first fully cooked sit-down or takeout dinner, 2 p.m. Nov. 28 at Fairport Harbor Congregational Church,” Neff said. Dinners also will be delivered for people who are homebound or cannot physically make it to the dinner. Meal deliveries will require reservations. Delivery area is limited to Fairport Harbor because of time constraints, Neff said. Anyone who would like to donate frozen turkeys or other food for Thanksgiving meal boxes; help at Feeding Fairport Hungry’s Thanksgiving dinner; donate a winter coat or clothing; schedule delivery of cooked Thanksgiving dinners on Nov. 28; or request a Thanksgiving meal box and frozen turkey prior to the holiday should contact Amy Neff at 808-780-5003 or [email protected]. Looking back over the past six years of operating Feeding Fairport’s Hungry, Neff said the group always has gotten great response whenever it puts out appeals for donations of food and other items. Feeding Fairport’s Hungry also has been successful at securing volunteers to assist at its events. “Fairport Harbor is a community that is so giving, and always wanting to jump in and help, so any time anyone is ever in any need, we’re going to get people to help out,” she said.