DAYTON — Every day during the summer, more than 4,800 meals are given to children in the Dayton area whose families might not otherwise be able to afford daily nutritional meals.

Dayton Public Schools and Living Word Metro Ministries both have programs to help feed the 50 percent of Dayton children who meet the requirements for free lunch, even when school is not in session.

On Friday, Aug. 1, the Children's Hunger Alliance held the second annual Dayton Summer Field Day at McCabe Park, featuring fun, fitness, and nutrition for area children, ages 1 to 18.

"Children's Hunger Alliance is a statewide, nonprofit organization looking to break the cycle of hunger through leadership, advocacy, and education," said Deanna Putman, southwest regional director and organizer of the Dayton event.

The day included face painting, arts and crafts, information booths for parents, games and a nutritious lunch.

"Playing all these games is so much fun," said Jasmine Lang, a 6-year-old who attended the event last year and who plans to return every year.

There were more than 80 volunteers at the event, most from the Limited Brands offices in Kettering. Others came from nearby universities.

"It's just fun getting to come out here and play with the kids and to see them have fun," said Chelsey Trupp, a student at Wright State University.

Six-year-old Dalan Nevrns wants to come back next year.

"It's lots of fun. I like the hockey thing a lot — where you have to shoot the ball in the holes," Dalan said.

While the goal is to get children exercising and eating nutritiously, it was the face-painting that many were most interested in.

"I liked getting my face painted!" 9-year-old Briana Rodgers said. "But I don't like when it washes off."

The event, Putman said, "is an opportunity for kids to come together and play together and meet some other kids in their neighborhoods.

"When people think of giving back, they think about money. But nonprofits have lots of other ways to give back — there is volunteering and events like this."