The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Volunteer Center was filled with the energy of more than 250 community members as the 25th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign kicked off during a sold out breakfast on Feb. 26, 2016.
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.
During the Foodbank’s presentation, Dan Flowers, Foodbank President & CEO introduced Foodbank 2020, the Foodbank’s highly collaborative, multi-tiered strategic plan aimed at providing access to food for everyone struggling with hunger in our region by 2025.
“This is a stake in the ground,” said Flowers. “We are not coming back to you year after year, asking for more with no end in sight. We want the community to know we are engaged in focused work toward a specific achievement. And we’re asking for more because we have a plan to realize something very special. So now I turn to you, friends. The work of this Harvest for Hunger campaign is the first step toward making this year one of progress toward closing the meal gap.”
The local 2016 Harvest for Hunger goal is set at an ambitious $1,200,000 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.
“I am proud to help lead the fight to end hunger in Northeast Ohio through this year’s Harvest for Hunger campaign,” said Jim Porter, Publisher of GateHouse Ohio Media. “Please join me and my team in supporting the Foodbank’s vital work. Every dollar we raise will provide four meals!”
The two major components of the Harvest for Hunger campaign are food & funds drives and Check Out Hunger.
1. 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.
2. 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
“It’s an honor and a privilege to Co-Chair the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s 2016 Harvest for Hunger campaign,” said Mark Cohen, Publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal. “Please join me in supporting Harvest for Hunger, a campaign that will help ensure the one in seven individuals facing hunger in our community have access to the nourishing food they need.”
Additional support for Harvest for Hunger is provided by local media sponsors including: About Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio.com, The Independent, The Repository, The Suburbanite, The Times-Reporter, WJW Fox 8, WKYC TV 3 and WOIO 19 Action News.