Food bank leads Harvest to feed region's hungry

One dollar equals seven meals for the hungry.

That is one of the basic facts the folks at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank hope will inspire people to give during the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign, one of the nation's largest food drives.

The local campaign will kick off with an hour-long rally at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the food bank, 546 Grant St., Akron. The 19-county campaign begins March 1 and runs through the month.

``We want to get the community excited about this campaign so that we can ensure that kids aren't going to be hungry or going to school hungry, and adults aren't going to work hungry,'' said Erin Deegan, spokeswoman for the food bank. ``A lot of our clients are working but have a hard time making ends meet.''

Last year, the food bank distributed its most food ever -- 11 million pounds.

A study by America's Second Harvest Network showed the number of people in need of emergency food services in the region had skyrocketed by 66 percent -- from 98,000 in 2001 to 163,000 in 2006.

Without the help of the more than 150 companies, nonprofit organizations and government agencies that hosted food and fund drives, the local food bank would not have been able to meet the need, Deegan said.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank coordinates the Harvest for Hunger campaign in Summit, Stark, Portage, Wayne, Medina, Tuscarawas, Carroll and Holmes counties.

Drives in those counties raised enough food and money last year to provide more than 3 million meals in Northeast Ohio.

This year's need is expected to be as great as, if not greater than, last year's. Daniel R. Flowers, president of the organization, wrote in a recent newsletter that the need continues to increase as ``enormous numbers of people cannot afford to live in our economy and end up going hungry.''

In explaining why the need is increasing, Flowers wrote: ``Every plant closing, every reduction in workforce, every federal funding cut, every rise in health insurance premiums and every increase in heating costs has its casualties. The disturbing middle class migration, from manufacturing jobs that supported families to low-paying jobs without benefits, continues to force increasing numbers of families into food pantries and shelters that are dependent on the Foodbank.''

The mission of the food bank is to end hunger. It serves more than 300 member agencies in Northeast Ohio through its collection, inspection and distribution of food. Between 40,000 and 100,000 pounds of food are distributed from the food bank each day. Thirty-four percent of the food bank's clients are children, and 10 percent are seniors.

Last year's record year resulted in several accomplishments for the agency, including the distribution of backpacks full of food to more than 100 students; the launching of direct distribution in Alliance that provided perishable food items to more than 500 men, women and children monthly, and the establishment of the first food drop site in Tuscarawas County that provided thousands of pounds of food to member agencies in remote areas.

This year's Harvest for Hunger honorary co-chairmen are Daniel C. Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, and Dennis P. Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Community members can help by holding a food and fund drive at work, school or church; by clipping ads in newspapers for use in contributing money; by scanning a $1, $5 or $10 coupon at the checkout of local supermarkets, or by donating nonperishable food at participating grocers.

Supermarket sponsors include Acme Fresh Markets, Dave's, Fisher Foods, Giant Eagle and Heinen's.

Tours of the 30,000-square-foot warehouse that is home to the food bank are available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 330-535-6900.

By Colette M. Jenkins, Beacon Journal staff writer. Source: www.ohio.com