Early Childhood Hunger Operation warns program will halt without donated space

Dawn Moore, executive director of Early Childhood Hunger Operation (ECHO), told the council that the program provides weekend food bags to 180 preschool-age children and that in 2025 ECHO provided 22,620 meals and has served more than 225,000 meals since 2010. Moore said their previously donated space through Abilities will no longer be available and the nonprofit cannot absorb rent: "They do not receive state or federal funding and rely on donations and fundraising," she said, urging council help identifying about 1,000 square feet of accessible, climate-controlled ground-floor space to continue assembling and storing food.