The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank has announced its 13th annual Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame event, the Foodbank’s largest annual fundraising event, will shift to a virtual fundraiser due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: A Day of Support will be held on the same day as the in-person event was originally scheduled, on Sept. 29.
The Foodbank is encouraging past event guests and community members committed to hunger relief to visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/taste on Sept. 29 to show their support of the Foodbank’s efforts to fight hunger locally.
Exciting incentive items will be offered at various levels for financial donations made online during A Day of Support. Items will include exclusive, football-centric packages with autographed items from a variety of iconic players.
Support for the Foodbank is needed now more than ever as it continues to respond to the increase in demand for food caused by the pandemic. The Foodbank has seen more than a 20 percent increase in its food distribution as the need has increased significantly with families out of work and struggling to make ends meet. More than 30 percent of the families visiting food pantries within the Foodbank’s eight-county service area are seeking help for the very first time.
More alarmingly, Feeding America, the nation’s largest charitable response to hunger relief, projects a 41 percent increase in the number of people struggling with hunger in Northeast Ohio because of the pandemic, and a 51 percent increase in the number of children facing food insecurity.
The annual Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is traditionally the Foodbank’s largest fundraising event, helping provide the equivalent of more than 670,000 meals in 2019. The event creates awareness regarding the issue of hunger in the local community, while raising funds to continue the Foodbank’s fight against hunger.
“Each year, Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame brings together the Foodbank’s most passionate supporters in a spectacular evening of food, fun and football. We’re disappointed we can’t gather together this year, but we’re hopeful our friends will stick with us by participating in A Day of Support,” said Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Foodbank.
“Nothing can replace the excitement and camaraderie this event invokes in all of us, but I know the community will rally behind hunger relief. This pandemic has shown us how many of our friends and neighbors are a paycheck away from needing help. This Foodbank and its work are more vital now than ever before,” said Flowers.
To participate in Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: A Day of Support, visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/taste on Sept. 29 to make your financial contribution and check out the exciting, incentive gifts.
A special thank you to the Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: A Day of Support presenting sponsors Citizens Bank and WQMX/WONE/WAKR/WNWV.