The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s warehouse was filled with energy as the 24th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign kicked off on Feb. 18, 2015.
Harvest for Hunger is a collaborative effort of four 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 kick-off, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank encouraged community participation to reach its local goal to raise $1,040,000 and 100,000 lbs. of food for the 2015 campaign. One hundred percent of all Harvest for Hunger donations will go directly toward feeding hungry men, women and children in our community.
“I hope you know how much we appreciate each and every one of you,” said Dan Flowers, President & CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “We CAN NOT do this without you. This campaign is what puts millions of meals on the tables of people in need in this community. It is what allowed us to give away more food, and more produce in 2014 than any other year in our history. This is it.”
The local 2015 Harvest for Hunger campaign is being led by two respected leaders from the food industry: Harvey Nelson, President of Main Street Gourmet and C.J. Fraleigh, Chairman & CEO, Shearer’s Foods.
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.
Locally, FirstEnergy conducts one of the Foodbanks largest food & funds drives. FirstEnergy employees develop fun and creative ways to raise money, such as bake sales, silent auctions, contests and more. Activities are sparked by friendly competition among business groups and employees across the company.
“FirstEnergy employees have long been champions of giving to Harvest for Hunger,” said Dee Lowery, President of the FirstEnergy Foundation. “Over the last 15 years, our employees have contributed more than $3.4 million and more than a million pounds of food to help fight hunger in the communities where we live and work. This support is the direct result of a leadership team that remains committed to making this effort a priority across the six states where we do business.”
Want to host a food & funds drive at your organization? Please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org for more information.
2. Check Out Hunger: Local supermarket chains participate in Check Out Hunger, which allows shoppers to scan coupons and make donations of $1, $5 or $10 at the checkout register. Check Out Hunger is available at Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle and Heinen’s Fine Foods. This program begins on February 22, 2015, at participating stores operated within the 21-county campaign region.
Additional support for Harvest for Hunger is provided by local media sponsors including: About Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, The Independent, Ohio.com, The Repository, The Suburbanite, The Times-Reporter, WJW Fox 8, WKYC TV 3 and WOIO 19 Action News.
