Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank exceeds 4.5 million meal goal in 2023 campaign
CANTON ‒ In its ongoing efforts to fight local hunger, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank has exceeded its Harvest for Hunger meal goal for 2023.
The Foodbank’s initial goal, announced in late February, was aimed at collecting monetary and food donations equivalent to 4.5 million meals. The organization surpassed that goal, raising $1.2 million and 77,700 pounds of food — a total of 4,848,129 meals for Northeast Ohio communities.
On Friday afternoon, the agency hosted a beach-themed open house celebration at its Stark County warehouse.
Every 1.2 pounds collected is equivalent to one meal and every dollar donated is equivalent to four meals, said Raven Gayhart, the Foodbank's public relations and communications manager.
More: 'Acts of Grace.' Akron-Canton Foodbank surpasses 2022 Harvest for Hunger campaign goal
The Harvest for Hunger meal campaign is coordinated by four major food banks in Northeast Ohio: the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. 2023 marks the 32nd anniversary of the campaign to fundraise and collect food donations for hunger-relief efforts.
Daniel R. Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, thanked community members, Foodbank board members and the campaigns two largest contributors: Giant Eagle and Buehler's Fresh Foods.
“Over half of the money for the campaign came from those two entities alone,” Flowers said.
More people relied on the Foodbank's services in 2022 than years past due to inflation and a decrease in pandemic-related relief and benefits, Flowers said.
According to a survey by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, 68% of Ohioans had to choose between food and transportation/gas within the last 2-3 months and more than 8 in 10 Ohio food bank clients are seeking help because of increased food costs.
“Hunger never takes a holiday,” said Flowers. “You need [food] every day.”
The regional foodbank provides food to pantries and agencies across Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Good Samaritans program in Akron provides food to 200 households a month through its partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, said Rev. Dean Kokanos.
The Good Samaritans Program distributed over 62,000 pounds of food and 13,000 pounds of fresh produce in 2022.
“We are so grateful to have a successful campaign, because without this partnership, it would be cost prohibitive to give out the amount of food we do every month,” says Kokanos. “Most of It comes from here.”
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank exceeds goal for Harvest for Hunger
