The Oakley Branch Library is offering free one-on-one homework help in reading and math for students in kindergarten through eighth grade this school year, while a countywide expansion of free afterschool meals now reaches 17 Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library branches.
No appointment is needed.
Homework help at the Oakley branch runs Monday through Thursday, 3–6 p.m., and began Aug. 17, according to the library's back-to-school guide. Students can walk in for help with reading or math at no cost.
The meals program, a partnership between the library system and UMC Food Ministry that has run for several years, expanded this year to 17 locations. The free afterschool meals and snacks are available to anyone 18 and under, Monday through Friday, and are funded federally. People ages 19 to 21 with disabilities enrolled in Individualized Education Programs are also eligible.
The Oakley branch is not among the 17 meal sites. The nearest locations for Oakley families are the Walnut Hills branch (3:15–4 p.m.) and the Madisonville branch (3:30–4:30 p.m.).
"Our meals sort of bridge the gap between the school lunch program and what they may get when they get home later on in the evening," Larry Karow, founder and CEO of UMC Food Ministry, told Local 12.
The ministry, based in Northern Kentucky, prepares the food, including sliced fruit and packed vegetables, for distribution across Hamilton County. According to Feeding America data cited by the library, more than 42,000 children in Hamilton County live in food-insecure households, meaning one in six kids is unsure where their next meal will come from.
Caroline Hoffman, branch supervisor at the Downtown Main Library, said she believes this year has more branches than ever participating in the afterschool meal program. "We actually see a lot of kids in here," Hoffman said. "This is really a space for them in the community."
The Oakley branch reopened Dec. 20, 2025, after a $1.5 million renovation that drew more than 650 community members. This summer, the library system and UMC Food Ministry served more than 10,000 meals and snacks through the Camp Read program, which drew 32,628 young participants countywide.
What Oakley families need to know
- Homework help at Oakley Branch: Monday–Thursday, 3–6 p.m., kindergarten through eighth grade, free walk-in, reading and math
- Nearest free meal sites: Walnut Hills (3:15–4 p.m.), Madisonville (3:30–4:30 p.m.)
- Eligibility for meals: Age 18 and under (or 19–21 with an IEP)
- Full schedule: Visit chpl.org/services/meals for updated meal times and locations
