Second Harvest Kicks Off Biggest Campaign of the Year
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio (Second Harvest) will kick off their Harvest for Hunger Campaign with a happy hour event on Thursday, February 22. This event will usher in their major food and funds drive of the year, which officially starts on Friday, March 1 and runs through the end of May.
“The Kick-off is a fun way for us to share how important this campaign is and how we can have a huge impact when we all come together,” said Julie Chase-morefield, President and CEO of Second Harvest.
The 2024 Harvest for Hunger community campaign aims to raise enough funds to cover 3.5 MILLION MEALS for food-insecure neighbors in our region. Every dollar raised will help restock the shelves of over 130 local food pantries, hot meal programs and shelters.
Harvest for Hunger is an annual food and funds drive. Second Harvest organizes the campaign in partnership with Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Akron-canton Food Bank and Second Harvest of the Mahoning Valley, serving 21 counties across northeast Ohio. This single campaign is the largest of its kind in the country and is crucial for Second Harvest and the region.
Local grocery stores Giant Eagle, Heinen’s and Buehler’s Fresh Foods support this campaign through Check Out Hunger at cash registers in their stores along with media partners, including newspapers, TV and radio stations. Local companies, businesses, organizations and civic clubs are a critical part of the campaign, running food and fund drives.
The Harvest for Hunger Kick-off will be from 4pm to 6pm at Second Harvest at 5510 Baumhart Rd. in Lorain. The Kick-off will have a short program featuring comments from this year’s honorary chairperson, Cynthia H. Andrews, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Lorain County. Guests can enjoy refreshments, win raffle prizes, pick up their campaign materials and meet others also involved in the effort. This event is open to all.
“I am honored to be the chairperson for the Harvest for Hunger campaign in 2024,” said Andrews. “It takes a village, and Second Harvest plays a crucial role as that community partner linking more than 130 partner charities, empowering them to address the evolving needs of our community. Second Harvest has provided the strategic vision and partnership, connecting food pantries and volunteers to provide for those less fortunate in our community.”
The food and funds raised from this campaign go directly to support their network of partners. During this time of increasing need, a successful 2024 campaign will offer the resources to restock shelves across our region with nutritious food for all those accessing services.
“When the cost for everyday essentials goes up, making ends meet is even harder,” said Chase-morefield. “Please help if you can! Every $1 raised can provide 7 meals to our community.”
If you or your organization want to support Harvest for Hunger, donate online at www.secondharvestfoodbank. org or contact Kathleen Brady at 440-434-2444.
About Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
As the area’s largest hunger-relief organization, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio grows hope in our region by creating pathways to nutritious food and envisions a brighter future for all by cultivating a healthy, hunger-free community.
Second Harvest secures and distributes over 12 million pounds of food and grocery products annually and works in partnership with 130-member partner charities and 10+ school districts, including food pantries, hot meal programs, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, senior food delivery and after-school programs. Driven by our current strategic plan, we are taking bold steps to make lasting changes by developing partnerships and plans to create long-term food security for all.
Before the pandemic, Second Harvest served 88,224 unduplicated individuals. Since the height of the pandemic, demand for food assistance remains 47% higher than pre-pandemic, with nearly 120K people receiving help from Second Harvest directly or from one of Second Harvest’s partner charities in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties.
Help bring the most basic of needs – food – to the table by visiting us online at www.secondharvestfoodbank.org. Dignity & Language
Second Harvest believes dignity is at the heart of serving our community, and language matters. We want everyone who seeks food assistance to feel welcomed and respected. We refer to the people we serve as community members or neighbors. We do not refer to them as the needy, the hungry, the poor, poor people, at-risk, underprivileged or disadvantaged.
We respectfully ask that you please refrain from making any significant changes to the information we provide.