The Stark County Fair is an institution for our community. Families in Stark County work yearlong preparing all aspects of the event; from various projects like selling livestock to working booths under the grandstands, the community rallies together for this true Stark County tradition.
Wanting to support the Fair and 4H students, for the first time, community leaders and elected officials purchased a pig raised by a local student and donated the more than 150 pounds of pork to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
The pork was made available to the Foodbank through the gift made by Richard Regula, current Stark County Commissioner, Bill Smith owner of Smith's Waco Market and current candidate for Stark County Commissioner and Alex Zumbar, Stark County Treasurer through Stark County’s 4-H Club’s Purchased Meat Program.
“As a second generation 4-H participant, I know the values that come from the Club,” said Regula. “This is a win-win for all involved; we are proud to support our community’s children and we are proud to support our Foodbank.”
The 4-H Club is a non-profit organization aimed at promoting citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills among youth.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is gearing up to provide for families in need during the upcoming holidays and winter months, and they are extremely grateful for the children and their parents in 4-H and the leaders who donated meat, one of the Foodbank’s top most requested items.
“There is a pressing need in Stark County,” said Smith. “With one in four children struggling with hunger, this local pork will feed many local families; it’s a true farm to table story we are proud to tell.”
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank serves 74 programs in Stark County. Alex Zumbar, from Alliance is the Stark County Treasurer, and knows that many people in this community, like his friends at the Alliance Community Pantry, work hard every day to provide food for families in our community.
“We are delighted to be able to support our hunger-relief partners and the 4-H program to provide meals for local families in need,” said Zumbar.