Do you or your student need help with school? Search our list of free- and low-cost PreK-12 resources to help youth and families in South Columbus navigate the 2020-2021 school year successfully. This list will periodically be updated with new information and resource categories.

Additionally, find links to citywide resources for youth and families at the bottom of the page.

Food Access

211 Emergency Food Assistance	LSS 211 Central Ohio connects Franklin County residents to more than 100 food pantries and meal sites, including several in South Columbus. Call (614) 221-6766, text (614) 702-7772, or access the Food Chat online.
All People’s Fresh Market	Provides fresh produce to members, free of charge. Membership is free and currently based on income eligibility. Visit the market during open hours and bring your ID. One of our Market volunteers will register you, and you will receive a membership key tag. Market hours are Tuesday – Friday 11 AM – 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 1 PM. Go online to learn more or visit 945 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206.
Columbus City Schools Meal Sites	During the district’s virtual learning status, Columbus City Schools will distribute meals to any child 18 and under. Families will be assigned a meal site location closest to their home address, and will be offered five (5) break and lunch meal packs to support their nutritional needs on every Wednesday starting September 9, 2020. Meal packs will be available for pick-up from 11:00 AM – 1 PM and 5 – 7 PM, until further notice. Call (614) 365-5000 or go online for more information.
LSS Champion Avenue Food Pantry	Free fresh food and non-perishable food. Walk-in produce distributions are Monday 11 AM – 1 PM and scheduled full shop appointment pickups and produce walk-ins are Tuesday – Friday 1 to 4 p.m. Call 1-877-LSS-MEAL or visit 1460 S. Champion Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206. NOTE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, all clients will receive a standard pre-packed box of food
USDA National Hunger Hotline	Information on how to obtain food. The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services. The hotline can be reached Monday through Friday 7 AM – 10 PM. Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish.)

Childcare

Action for Children	Interactive map with all licensed child care programs currently open and enrolling children in Central Ohio. This map will be updated regularly as the status of programs change. Committed to helping parents take the guesswork out of choosing child care options that meet their needs and provide flexible options to guide them through the process. Call (614) 224-0222 to schedule a time to speak with a specialist, or go online 24/7 to submit your request or conduct your own search.
Care.com	Allows parents to go online and find trusted babysitters, nannies, child care centers, tutors, nannies and special needs caregivers in their area. Go online to get help or explore resources.
Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) Early Learning & Development	All child care centers in the state of Ohio are licensed by the ODJFS or the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). These websites also provide information on licensing rules, forms and training. Parents can search online for child care providers by location, type of facility and ages of children, its licensing status, its location and the number and ages of children served. Print out the two-page Parent’s Guide to Choosing Safe and Healthy Child Care checklist. Call the ODJFS Child Care Help Desk: (877) 302-2347 or go online.

Academic Support

BrainFuse	24-hour access to study tools and test preparation for students. Plus LIVE Online Tutors available Monday-Friday, 2-11 p.m. FREE with your Columbus Metropolitan Library card.
Columbus Metropolitan Library – School Help	Virtual Homework Help (K-12) and student reading practice (K-3), plus tech support for basic Chromebook trouble-shooting. Live virtual help is offered Monday-Thursday 9 AM – 7 PM, Friday and Saturday 9 AM – 6 PM, and Sunday 1-5 PM. Text (614) 810-4457, call (61) 645-2275, or go online. CML is now providing in-person Homework Help at select locations. In South Columbus K-12 students can currently get help at the Driving Park Branch (1422 E Livingston Ave) Monday-Thursday 3:30-6:30 PM and Friday 2:30-5:30 PM.
CCS Active Learning Points	At Active Learning Points, as well as other Learning Extension Centers hosted by community partners across the city, students will have access to internet and learning devices to assist them in remote learning. Staff at the centers can assist students in accessing CCS Remote Learning and Digital Academy platforms. Students will also be able to complete and get help with homework. At many locations, students will also be able to get meals and may have access to “after-school”-type activities. South Columbus schools are in CCS District Region 3. Call (614) 365-5000 or go online for a comprehensive list of regional sites and registration information.

Basic Essentials for School

Charity Newsies	Provides new clothing for school children of all ages in Franklin County free of charge. They can also provide shoes, winter coats and vouchers for school uniforms. Call (614) 263-4300 or go online to apply.
Student Success Stores	Amid the pandemic, Student Success Stores have shifted all operations to the creation and delivery of 7000+ monthly emergency supply kits for CCS students and their families. These kits will be available at every food site from October until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Visit the website for more information. Email [email protected] or go online.

Additional Citywide Resources

Cap4Kids	Reliable, up-to-date information about resources in the Columbus area for children and families. Comprehensive, organized lists of community agencies that exist to improve the lives of children and families. Mobile phone users can click on the orange parent handouts at the top of the page to find all the resources. The website is updated daily. Go online to explore and find resources.
Franklin County Children’s Services	Franklin County Children Services has compiled information and resources that will be helpful to families and caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic. This page will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
LSS 211 Central Ohio	24 hours a day, every day, 2-1-1 is the critical FirstLink between Greater Columbus’ efforts to reduce poverty and ensuring opportunity for every central Ohioan. LSS 211 Central Ohio is the largest, AIRS™ accredited information and referral service in Ohio, and among the largest in the United States. Their professional team of certified resource specialists coordinate service delivery and strengthen food security for 260,000 people each year. They combine best practices, experience and social innovation to provide one of the nation’s leading 2-1-1 services here in central Ohio. Call (614) 221-6766 or go online.