Dear Network Partners,
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, your Foodbank, is committed to the highest standards of accountability, transparency and dedication to supporting our network of 500 hunger-relief programs. Over the weekend the Akron Beacon Journal published a column which raised some questions and concerns regarding the operations of our organization. Some of the issues raised in this article were about product fees, nutritional content of our food and finances.
I wanted to address a few of these concerns that may be of specific interest to our Network Partners.
• In 2016, 72 percent of food was distributed with no cost. The Foodbank continues to seek opportunities for more free food on the menu to support network partners. At the end of the third quarter this year, the percentage of free-food distribution increased to 75%. That is 18.5 million lbs of food to our network at no charge.
• We are extremely proud to be able to provide you with more free food products year after year, and we are confident that we will be able to continue this trend.
• The Foodbank has a longstanding commitment to provide fresh produce for free. Our strategic plan goal is to have fresh produce as a minimum of 25% of our total distribution – all with no cost to network partners. In 2016, 8.4 million pounds of fresh, nutritious produce was provided for free.
• Efficiency is very important to us, and an issue we take very seriously. We have consistently achieved a 4-star-ranking on Charity Navigator, full compliance with the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Standards, Feeding America contract standards, American Institute of Bakers food safety inspection standards, and numerous other third-party reviews.
As a Network Partner of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank we want you to feel confident and proud of your relationship with us. If you have additional questions regarding the operations or leadership of our organization, please feel free to send me an email directly at joldham@acrfb.org. For more information and to read the response from our President & CEO, Dan Flowers, click here.
Thank you for your continued commitment to achieving our shared vision of a thriving community free of hunger. We couldn’t do it without you.
Sincerely,
Jill M. Oldham
Director, Network Partners and Programs