DID YOU KNOW? The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank distributes an average of 110,000 pounds of food each day. SPRING 2017

A publication of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

Serving Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties

Thank you for helping families like Elva’s

In 1963, John F. Kennedy declared May to When her surgery bills be Senior’s Month to acknowledge the became unmanageable, accomplishments of our past and present Elva found the Brunswick

350 Opportunity Parkway older citizens. While the month is dedicated Food Pantry, a partner Akron, OH 44307-2234 to honoring our nation’s seniors, it is also an hunger-relief program of main: 330.535.6900 opportunity to raise awareness about issues the Akron-Canton Regional fax: 330.996.5337 akroncantonfoodbank.org facing older adults. Foodbank, and is proud to share her gratitude. One of the problems continually seen is food insecurity— or the lack of access to healthy, “This place helps me and so many others get BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Purtilar, Chair nourishing food. Recently, the Foodbank through the month,” said Elva. “Senior citizens William Shivers, Vice Chair staff had the pleasure of meeting Elva at the especially need places like this and we are Shelly Allio, Secretary Brunswick Food Pantry in Media County. blessed they are here.” Jim Bowen, Treasurer Lisa Backlin After going through the pantry line Elva has a Rob Bowers Todd Civiello REPORT CHOOSING cart full of fresh produce, meats, breads and Mark Cohen 68% BETWEEN PAYING FOR treats, and she smiles as volunteers from the Lia Easler FOOD & PAYING FOR MEDICAL CARE. Randall Frame pantry help her out of the door. Kristin Hannon Ronald Hartman Standing outside the doors of the Brunswick “PLEASE TELL THE PEOPLE WHO Thomas Haught Suzanne Hobson Food Pantry in Medina County, Elva stood PROVIDED THIS FOOD HOW Nicole Koharik patiently with her walker, waiting in line for THANKFUL WE ARE,” Elva said. Terry Link groceries with dozens of other families. Greg Long Many seniors like Elva are making that tradeoff Amanda Montgomery Jill Penrose Elva spent her entire life working in the fashion between paying for food and paying for other Pamela Simpson industry, supporting her family and living necessities like medication—but with your Jan Weaver comfortably. When she retired, and began living continued support, your Foodbank and our Bernett L. Williams on a fixed income, she found herself choosing network of hunger-relief programs are there for Daniel R. Flowers PRESIDENT & CEO between paying medical bills or buying groceries. families like hers! APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH MARK YOUR CALENDAR Hello, friends! 2016 was another record-setting year for your Foodbank. We distributed more than Volunteer Celebration 28.8 million pounds of food to our network of hunger-relief partners. Of that, more Event: Volunteer Prom than 8.4 million pounds was fresh produce. The scale of the Foodbank is the reason MAY 2, 2017 for the incredible efficiency we offer the community and our donors.

Harvest for Hunger We have consistently maintained a 4-star ranking by Navigator, and the Campaign Celebration return of dollars into program ratio we have here has always run over 90 percent. MAY 12, 2017 It was our scale that made our merger with the Canton-based Community Harvest

Stamp Out Hunger Annual prepared and perishable food resource program such a big win in 2016. And going Letter Carrier's Food forward we will use our resources to help better connect the work of the local food MAY 13, 2017 movement, both in Summit and Stark Counties, to efforts in the charitable sector.

CORE Event Your Foodbank is a stable organization with a fanatical commitment to our mission, for Young Professionals our integrity and our efficiency. Please do not think that the size of this warehouse MAY 17, 2017 is an indication that we have it all covered or that your contributions don’t make a difference. Remember, the Foodbank's very size and scale is precisely what makes Taste of the Pro Football it THE BEST investment you can make...charitable or otherwise. Hall of Fame AUGUST 29, 2017 But here, at this Foodbank, we believe who and why is every bit as important as how and what. For what purpose is a journey of a thousand miles if every step be Operation Orange full of tears? And of what value is charity without love, or compassion, or empathy, SEPTEMBER 8-9, 2017 or the happiness that giving brings? To lose sight of those is to forgo the joy of the journey entirely. And what good is it to arrive having never travelled with hope? Selfless Elf 5K DECEMBER 16, 2017 The ripples of cause and effect and subtleties in our human interactions are an endless canvas of exploration into the practice of love for ourselves and others. For it is in our connections with each other that we see ourselves. In my goodness to Please visit our website for you I see the goodness in me. In your support of the Foodbank, we see the endless additional event details. goodness and potential for positive change in our community.

akroncantonfoodbank.org/events Peace- Are you hosting a community event Dan Flowers benefitting the Foodbank? Submit President & CEO details online, and we'll add it to the calendar on our website.

The diverse faiths of the world share a common On May 7, 2017, join hundreds of community compassion to nourish the hungry and the members with walking locations in vulnerable, especially children. That shared Akron, Medina and Stark County. We compassion finds expression during the Akron WALK look forward to seeing you during this Area Interfaith Council’s Hunger Walks. TO FIGHT kid-friendly and pet-friendly event! HUNGER May 7 th

JOIN THE HUNGER WALKS ON MAY 7TH VISIT HUNGERWALKS.ORG TO REGISTER HONOR ROLL JOIN THE HARVEST FOR HUNGER CAMPAIGN The Honor Roll recognizes our top supporters of the season. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Harvest for Hunger is the Foodbank’s largest initiative and is one 415 Group of the largest food & funds drives in the Akron Community Andrew Carson Memorial Foundation nation. The campaign is a collaborative Arcelormittal effort of four food banks serving 21 The Augustin Family Charitable Fund counties in Northeast Ohio. The Beaver Excavating Company Bemis Company Foundation THERE IS STILL TIME TO GET The biggest impact in the fight to end Brechbuhler Truck Sales, LLC INVOLVED WITH THIS YEAR’S H. Peter Burg Fund of the Akron hunger is made through financial Community Foundation CAMPAIGN! . Every $1 provides four Cardinal Health Foundation, Inc. meals for those in need. CareSource Fundraise online with the Foodbank's Charles Millard Hall Foundation new online fundraising portal which allows Check Out Hunger: Local retailers Cisco Systems Foundation you to customize your fundraising and including local Buehler's Fresh Foods, Cisco Systems, Inc. generate gifts virtually! Check it out at Dave's Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Copley High School The George H. Deuble Foundation give.akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh. Eagle, Ace Hardware and Heinen's Fine DRB Systems, Inc. Foods, participate in Check Out Hunger, Eaton Corporation : Nearly which allows shoppers to scan coupons Host a food & funds drive Estate of Mathew Contessa 200 businesses, schools, community and make donations of $1, $5 or $10 at the FirstEnergy Foundation organizations and families are holding food checkout register. FirstMerit Foundation & funds drives throughout the months of GAR Foundation ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF The Gessner Family Foundation, Inc. March and April. To host a food & funds ALL HARVEST FOR HUNGER GOJO Industries, Inc. drive, simply register and download a DONATIONS WILL GO DIRECTLY The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company coordinator’s kit from the Foodbank’s TOWARD FEEDING OUR HUNGRY Greystone Group website, akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh. NEIGHBORS IN NEED. Harwood Rubber Products, Inc. Haslinger Family Foundation The Hoover Foundation W. Henry Hoover Fund The Huntington National Bank THANK YOU TO OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS Insurance Services Office, Inc. J Law Media, LLC JAH Foundation Although the Foodbank celebrates the Dennis, who is semi-retired and self- Johnson-Kazar Charitable Foundation work of their volunteers all year long, we employed, has been at the Ralph R. and Grace B. Jones Foundation are proud to celebrate National Volunteer Foodbank since 2012. He shared that Kokosing Materials, Inc. Kovatch Family Charitable Fund Month this April, a month dedicated to coming in every week grounds him and Making Smiles Foundation showing gratitude for those who give reminds him where he is in his week. Marco's Franchising, LLC their time and talents. Just last year in John A. McAlonan Fund of Akron 2016, the Foodbank hosted nearly 10,000 Dennis shared that he loves coming to Community Foundation volunteers who donated more than volunteer at the Foodbank because he Melt Bar & Grilled, Inc. 58,000 hours of service. has made many friends with both staff Harry & Anne Mestel Foundation Miller Transfer and other volunteers. “I can’t emphasize On a daily basis, our committed Milton Wiskind Fund of Akron enough how much I love the environment Community Foundation volunteers are doing a variety of tasks and the positive vibe that is infectious National Electrical Contractors Association like inspecting, sorting and repacking Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons throughout the whole organization.” every non-perishable food and essential The M.G. O'Neil Foundation item that is donated to the Foodbank or The Pampered Chef “To the other recently retired seniors, spend their time like Dennis, working in The Pastore Foundation if you’re not sure what to do, come the Foodbank’s office. Revere High School and volunteer at your Foodbank,” Ron Marhofer Auto Family Every Wednesday Dennis stated. “I know that they will The J.M. Smucker Company St. Michael Parish morning, you’ll find be welcomed warmly; you’ll have fun TANA Foundation Dennis Moroney working for a great cause.” The Walt Disney Company folding or stuffing T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls envelopes as a TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, Wagler Foundation key Development THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH Walgreen's team volunteer at INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF Wayside Furniture, Inc. the Foodbank. OUR FOODBANK FAMILY! WBC Group, LLC Westfield Insurance Thank you, brave Polar Bears!

On Saturday, February 18, 2017, more than 800 people traded their winter coats for bathing suits and flip-flops at the 14th Annual Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump, all to benefit your Foodbank. A huge thank you to the volunteers at the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club for your hard-work and dedication in making this event a success. The brave jumpers raised more than $160,000!

WELCOME NEW CORE MEMBERS

CORE is made up of motivated, energetic young professionals interested in growing their professional PHOTO: RYAN HAIDET, WKYC-TV HAIDET, RYAN PHOTO: network while helping feed those struggling with hunger in our area. We hope that you will join us in 2017 for various volunteer projects and State programs are critical opportunities to learn more about Ohio’s Foodbanks have received support in the Foodbank. For a full list of CORE the state budget for nearly 20 years. This events and details, please visit support comes in the form of shelf stable akroncantonfoodbank.org/core. commodities and fresh produce made available to network partners. Foodbanks With any questions, please contact from across the state, led by the Ohio Megan Birman at 330.777.2318. Association of Foodbanks, will advocate for funding that will align Ohio’s funded 2017 CORE MEMBERS hunger-relief efforts within one request. Abdullah Alkhulaiwi A $30 million per year allocation, sourced Amanda Bevington from existing federal and state dollars, will Megan Birman fund the following programs: • The Ohio Benefit Bank, a proven, Deron Boyd effective collaboration with Ohio’s Samantha Donaldson • The Ohio Food Program, providing shelf nonprofit and social service sector to lift Ryan Dyke stable foods people out of poverty Rachael Erickson • The Ohio Agricultural Clearance • Capacity building for Foodbank and Katie Furnish Program, providing surplus fresh non-profit charities fighting local hunger Nolan Gibson produce, meats and eggs and the Ohio Colleen Iacianci Food Program, providing shelf-stable Hunger is a complex problem in Ohio, and Holly Johnston foods (OFP and OACP account for 21% it requires a comprehensive solution— Nicole Kokish of the total food made available at our including government funding, private and Chelsy Kwiatkowski Foodbank) corporate donations, community and faith- Weston Lott • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance based partnerships and access to federal nutrition programs and other programs for Sara Myers Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) low-income individuals and families. This Rachel Osherow outreach to Ohio’s most vulnerable comprehensive approach is critical to this Natalie Peacock populations solution. Jenny Provo • Innovative programs for Ohio’s hungry Adam Reese children, such as summer weekend meal Visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/advocate Ryan Syroid programs and summer rural delivery to join the Foodbank's Advocacy Network James Wright meal programs and you'll receive Action Alerts in your Katy Yoak • Summer Farmer’s Market Programs email notifying you of ways that you can targeting families with children join in the fight against hunger.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS. If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please contact the Marketing Department at [email protected] or 330.535.6900.

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