The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Volunteer Center was filled with the energy of more than 300 community members as the 26th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign kicked off during a sold-out breakfast on March 1, 2017.
Harvest for Hunger is the Foodbank’s largest fundraising initiative and is a collaborative effort of four Ohio food banks serving 21 counties in Northeast Ohio including: the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley and the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
The local 2017 Harvest for Hunger goal is set at an ambitious $1,250,500 and 100,000 lbs. of food, and is being led by two respected leaders from the media industry, Mark Cohen, Publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal and Jim Porter, Publisher of GateHouse Ohio Media.
One hundred percent of all Harvest for Hunger donations will go directly toward feeding hungry men, women and children in our community.
“For those of you that are with us today who might be searching for connection and purpose, looking for evidence of meaning in your work in the world – Look no further,” said Dan Flowers President & CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “Your presence here today, your work on this campaign, it counts. I hope what you’ve heard about our campaign makes you feel good about your Foodbank and this vital undertaking we’re launching here this morning.”
The two major components of the Harvest for Hunger campaign are food & funds drives and Check Out Hunger:
- Food & funds drives: Nearly 300 businesses, schools, community organizations and families are holding food & funds drives throughout the months of March and April. To register a food & funds drive, simply download a coordinator’s kit from the Foodbank’s website, akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh.
- Check Out Hunger: Local retailers including Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle, Ace Hardware and Heinen’s Fine Foods participate in Check Out Hunger, which allows shoppers to scan coupons and make donations of $1, $5 or $10 at the checkout register.
If you have any additional questions or want to get involved locally in Harvest for Hunger, please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh.