Church donates 39K pounds of food to Second Harvest

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 39,000 pounds of food and commodities April 30 to Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

To date, Latter-day Saint Charities has initiated 280 novel coronavirus pandemic relief projects in over 80 countries, according to a news release.

Within the United States, 15 truckloads of commodities from the Church’s network of bishops’ storehouses are being delivered each week to food banks and other charitable organizations across the country such as Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

“When Michael Snyder, president of the Cleveland Ohio Stake, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, which makes up nine local congregations in the Northeastern Ohio Area, heard of the incredible need for food in our area, he went to work acquiring two truckloads of food from Salt Lake City for Second Harvest,” said Sandra Hruza, communications specialist of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Second Harvest’s suppliers were running behind on some of the needed items.

“Everyone was so excited to see the food, it was perfect,” said Susan Bartosch, Second Harvest director of external affairs, in the release.

“We could see the miracles.”

Due to COVID-19, Second Harvest now is serving 4,000 families a week, estimated to be 12,000 individuals, which needs 200,000 pounds of food a week.

Two-thirds of the families are first-time clients who have either been affected by COVID-19, lost their jobs or have been furloughed, according to the release.