09/25/2026
The Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center in Chauncey successfully secured just over $8,000 from the Joe Burrow Foundation and the Ohio University's Economics of Altruism Foundation in April. This funding enabled AMESC to procure essential carts, shelving, and reusable bags to assist students in need.
AMESC Superintendent Lindy Douglas expressed profound gratitude for the grant aimed at uplifting local school districts. This support will be instrumental in enriching educational resources and opportunities for students within our vibrant community.
“It’s inspiring to witness such dedication to education, and we are eager to see the positive change this grant will create in our schools," Douglas shared. “This investment reflects a strong commitment to our future leaders and highlights the importance of collaboration to prioritize the needs of both students and educators.”
The AMESC recently delivered the much-needed items to the remarkable school districts they support. Beneficiaries included Southern Local School District (Meigs), Eastern Local School District, Meigs Local School District, Alexander Local School District, Trimble Local Schools, Nelsonville-York City Schools, and Athens City Schools.
Mrs. Douglas conveyed AMESC's pride in empowering these districts through this grant.
“There are countless dedicated professionals who selflessly ensure that students facing food insecurity have access to meals,” Douglas remarked. "While some may never fully comprehend the struggles of true hunger, it is evident that when students are nourished, they can focus and flourish in their school work and learning experiences."
Ohio University students in the Economics of Altruism course evaluated several projects and ultimately chose to support three organizations. This class, led by Julia Paxton, Ph.D., Professor and Undergraduate Director of Economics, emphasized effective philanthropy and the grant-making process.
Robin and Jimmy Burrow, parents of Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, were present at the grant awards ceremony in April.
Key figures such as Douglas, Beth Lanning, grant writer and Career Coach at Southern High School (Meigs), Project RISE’s Amy Robinson, Athens City Schools Superintendent Chad Springer, Food Pantry Director Mona French, and Southern Elementary Principal Tricia McNickle played pivotal roles in securing the grant by highlighting the urgent need to support students dealing with food insecurity to the Ohio University students involved.
“We are incredibly humbled and grateful for the pantry supplies,” McNickle shared. “Once the items were delivered, we swiftly assembled them and began utilizing them within a day. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in addressing food insecurity, ensuring that every child possesses the resources necessary to succeed both in and out of the classroom.”
McNickle also expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the AMESC, the Joe Burrow Foundation, the Economics of Altruism Foundation, Ohio University, and all who contributed to securing the grant.
The dynamic duo from Athens City Schools, Mr. Springer and Mrs. French, echoed the same sentiment as Mrs. McNickle.
“On behalf of the Athens City School District, we want to express our sincere appreciation for this support. Food insecurity is a very real challenge for many of our families, and removing that barrier is critical to ensuring our students can focus on their education and succeed in the classroom,” Springer said.
Springer said he is grateful to the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center, the Joe Burrow Foundation, and Ohio University’s Economics of Altruism course for prioritizing the needs of the district’s students. He said the grant was a practical investment for the food pantries that will directly benefit the school community.
“The additional shelving and carts really took our space to the next level. The insulated bags were a great idea!” French said. “We have already put those to use, delivering 740 Food Rescue meals; the individual portions were a perfect fit. Everyone coming together to provide for each community in Southeast Ohio was remarkable. So glad we were included in such a wonderful process; thank you for everything!”
“It was very fun to see all the deliveries come in. The carts arrived on a big pallet, and all the food pantry items took up a lot of space,” Robinson expressed. “It was very nice to see a team effort to make sure a basic need is met for students in our area.”
“I am very thankful for the blessings from the grants. When Amy Robinson and I delivered the food pantry supplies, it was very rewarding to see the big smiles. It was like Christmas!” Lanning expressed. “It was amazing to see all the hard work pay off. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
