Second Harvest Food Bank awards grants to 12 local partners

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio recently partnered with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to distribute grants to 12 local food pantries in our service area.

The grant funding will allow food pantries to purchase new equipment so they can accept, store and distribute fresh, wholesome foods to struggling families, according to a news release from Second Harvest.

“We are so grateful for this funding, which was included by the state of Ohio in the last state budget to help our food pantries increase the amount of fresh produce, dairy and protein that they can handle and distribute,” said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. “Fresh produce is the one of the most sought-after items, but also one of the most perishable.

“This new equipment will allow local partners to bring more fresh, nutritious foods to our neighbors in need.”

Grants in Second Harvest’s region were part of $500,000 in total funding distributed statewide by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, thanks to support from the Ohio General Assembly and Gov. Mike DeWine, according to the release.

Across Ohio, grant funds will be used to purchase an estimated 116 refrigerators and 93 freezers, as well as dozens of items like insulated blankets, shelving and pallet jacks, the release said.

This equipment is essential because it will allow food pantries to safely store food, prolong shelf-life where possible, and make it safer and easier for volunteers to sort, move and distribute foods.

In the Buckeye state, three in 10 Ohioans live in households with incomes low enough to qualify for help from food banks, the release said.

In 2019, Second Harvest distributed more than 9.5 million pounds of food to over 88,000 children, seniors, working families and individuals with disabilities in its 4-county service area.

“Food insecurity and hunger are major public health crises and directly contribute to the rapidly rising cost of health care,” Chase-Morefield said. “As we celebrate National Nutrition Month in March, there is no better time to focus on efforts to provide Ohioans facing food insecurity with wholesome, healthy foods.”