The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank welcomed nearly 500 guests to its annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign Kick-off Breakfast, the largest in attendance since the breakfast began in 2016. Enthusiastic energy filled the ballroom at the John S. Knight Center on February 15 as community members came together to rally behind the 27th annual campaign.
The Harvest for Hunger Campaign is the Foodbank’s largest fundraising initiative and helps support food distribution all year long. 100 percent of all funds raised in this campaign goes directly to providing free food for those in need in the local community.
Foodbank Vice President Shelly Hinton highlighted this year’s ambitious goal, $1.31 million and 100,000 pounds of food. Ideally, the Campaign will help provide the equivalent of more than 5.2 million meals to the Foodbank’s network of hunger-relief partners. Hinton also touched on the Campaign’s desire to educate the community on the tough choices those struggling with hunger must make; choosing between groceries and paying for utilities, medical care, transportation costs, etc.
Those interested in participating in the 2018 Harvest for Hunger Campaign can get involved by:
- Coordinate a food & funds drive. Nearly 300 businesses, schools, community organizations and families are holding food & funds drives throughout the months of March and April.
- Participate in Check Out Hunger. Local retailers including Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle, Ace Hardware and Heinen’s Fine Foods allow shoppers to scan coupons and make donations of $1, $5 or $10 at the checkout register.
The Harvest for Hunger Campaign is one of the largest food & funds drive in the country. It is a collaborative partnership bringing together four regional food banks — 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 — and focuses on fighting hunger across 21 counties in Northeast Ohio.
For more information, visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh.
