AKRON With heartfelt thanks to its donors, volunteers and community leaders, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank announced Friday it is on its way to another record year for its Harvest for Hunger campaign.
The food bank is on track to exceed its goal of $1.3 million in cash donations for the campaign that kicked off in February, an amount that can help provide more than 5.3 million meals.
"We received tremendous support from the community," said Brian Harte, the president of Cleveland Clinic Akron General. "We’re within $60,000 of our financial goal, and donations will continue to roll in throughout the remainder of the year."
Last year’s campaign raised $1.36 million —the equivalent of 5.54 million meals — breaking its goal of $1.2 million.
Harte and Gatehouse Ohio's Jim Porter, publisher of The Canton Repository, served as co-chairs for the campaign.
Harvest for Hunger is one of the largest food-and-fund drives in the country. The campaign is an effort to reduce food insecurity across 21 counties in Northeast Ohio, pulling together the Akron-Canton agency, Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
The Foodbank said 100 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to providing food for the community. For every dollar raised, the food bank estimates it can provide four meals.
The agency increased its goal to $1.3 million in February, hoping to shatter last year’s record.
Dan Flowers, president and CEO of Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, along with staff members Gina Campbell and Stephanie Koontz, recognized several participating organizations and other volunteers for their support. Flowers expressed his gratitude and excitement for the campaign’s results.
"Harvest for Hunger is a campaign that truly demonstrates how supportive our community is," Flowers said. "Each and every dollar raised and canned good collected is the difference between hunger and hope for so many of our neighbors struggling with food insecurity."
FirstEnergy Corp., Shearer’s Snacks and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. were recognized as the campaign’s top financial donors. Ball Corp. and the National Association of Letter Carriers were the top food contributors.
Koontz acknowledged organizations for how much they raised and individuals for their special contributions. Kim Anderson of the Akron Beacon Journal received an award for Coordinator of the Year.
Flowers concluded the ceremony by thanking those who helped and encouraging everyone to continue supporting and donating.
For more information about donating to support hunger-relief efforts, visit AkronCantonFoodbank.org.
Brandon Bounds is a staff writer for the Akron Beacon Journal.