Who We Are
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food to our neighbors in need. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to member hunger-relief programs in eight Northeast Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne. These member programs operate more than 600 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food.
How We Work
The Foodbank is a distribution center that provides an efficient operation to collect, sort and distribute food. The Foodbank has an 83,000 square foot warehouse including 8,000 square feet of refrigeration and freezer space. The Foodbank secures food donations from corporate food donors, state and federal food assistance programs, and Feeding America, the national food bank network. Food is also obtained through a purchase program where large quantities of food are purchased at reduced price to offer to its network of hunger-relief programs. This purchase program is supported by our financial donations. Much of the donated and purchased food is transported to the warehouse by the Foodbank's fleet of trucks.
The Volunteer Center is where donated food is inspected, sorted and repackaged in preparation for distribution. Volunteers provide thousands of hours of support every year, helping to prepare this food for those in need. Every day, the Foodbank's hunger-relief programs place food orders and pick up these orders at the warehouse. The programs provide this food through their food pantries, hot meal sites, or shelters to the hungry in their community or neighborhood. The Foodbank feeds approximately 263,200 people through this network of programs every year.
Our Mission
To lead a collaborative network that empowers people to experience healthy and hunger-free lives. We distribute food to feed people, and we advocate, engage and convene our community in the fight to end hunger.
Our Vision
A thriving community free of hunger.
Our Values
- Compassion: Acting with kindness, grace and a willingness to help
- Collaboration: Working together to leverage the wisdom of collective thinking
- Service: Striving to exceed expectations
- Integrity: Pursuing ethical, credible and honorable conduct
- Inclusion: Creating an environment where all people feel safe, welcomed, respected and valued
- Innovation: Embracing creativity, risk and an openness to being different
