Second Harvest changing plans to meet increased need

The novel coronavirus pandemic has turned the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio’s plan for 2020 on its head.

Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest, said with the year starting out with an increase in need, the food bank is experiencing a shortage of supplies to meet the demand for food for struggling families.

“It’s safe to say whatever plans we had before are scraped,” Chase-Morefield said.

In a March 31 update, she said the number of families needing food assistance has doubled.

With schools out until at least May 1, Second Harvest has anticipated a high demand for food through April and well into May, Chase-Morefield said.

The food bank now has 28 Ohio Army National Guard members to help with the distribution of an anticipated 3,000 boxes a week for food pantries to meet the need, the update said.

Over the past few weeks,

Second Harvest has packaged almost 5,000 boxes.

Chase-Morefield said the help of the National Guard has been essential, since currently, it has no volunteers helping in the distribution process.

The increase in need has been evident through her staff’s experience, who say many families are going to food pantries that have not before.

As for where people can pick up food, 63 food pantries partnered with Second Harvest are open, with less than half of its hot meal programs still open.

Mobile pantries also are following a schedule for pick-up, providing food for families through vehicle drive-thru in Lorain and Elyria, as well as school districts like Amherst Exempted Village Schools, Firelands Local Schools, Norwalk City Schools and South Central Local Schools in Greenwich.

Challenges

Chase-Morefield said other challenges also have troubled Second Harvest.

Since the food bank only has three truck drivers to pick and up and deliver food, the organization has stopped picking up food from grocery stores to ensure the drivers stay healthy.

The food bank now is relying on food donations and purchasing food for local families.

Second Harvest also was planning to purchase another truck to aid in food transportation, but additional food purchases are making it difficult for it to find the funds for the purchase, Chase-Morefield said.

With additional funds coming through the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act for food banks, she said the problem is when those funds would come in.

This may take three to six months.

“The need is acute,” Chase-Morefield said, adding that they are still grateful for the funds. “We need to fill it now.”

It is with the support of the community that Second Harvest continues to provide such immense resources, she said.

“We’re really grateful for the community for the support,” Chase-Morefield said.