Starck is chosen honorary chair of 2020 Harvest for Hunger Campaign

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio has announced that Dr. Rebecca Starck, president of Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital, is the 2020 Harvest for Hunger honorary chairperson.

The Harvest for Hunger Campaign will kick-off Feb. 25 at Second Harvest, 5510 Baumhart Road in Lorain, and run through mid-April, according to a news release from Second Harvest.

“The Harvest for Hunger campaign is the largest campaign of the year for Second Harvest”, said Julie ChaseMorefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Starck lead this critical effort to ensure families facing hunger in our community have access to nutritious food.”

Harvest for Hunger is an annual food and funds drive that takes place every spring.

Second Harvest organizes the campaign in partnership with the three other Feeding America food banks in northern Ohio serving 21 counties.

This campaign is the largest single campaign of its kind in the country and a crucial program for Second Harvest and the region, according to the release.

Locally, Giant Eagle and Heinen’s are the cornerstone supporters of this campaign through their CheckOut Hunger initiative in the stores at the cash registers.

Companies, businesses, organizations and civic clubs are encouraged to run a campaign and be a part of this important campaign.

“I am honored to serve as chairperson of the Second Harvest campaign that helps address a critical need in our area,” Starck said. “Providing

the best care for our patients requires that we also care for their communities. I look forward to collaborating to strengthen the health and wellness of our neighbors.”

Starck is an advocate for community health and wellness and has served on the steering committee of the Lorain County Community Health Improvement Plan.

She served as associate medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s regional administrative team, and chaired Cleveland Clinic’s regional OB/GYN department from 2010-17.

She practiced medicine since 1999 as a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist.