CLEVELAND — EDITOR'S NOTE: The video in the player above is from a previous story.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is getting an influx of cash, thanks to a $1.5 million donation from Key Bank.
The money will go toward the GCFB's expansion, including a new facility on Coit Rd. in the Collinwood neighborhood in Cleveland. That new building will help the food bank reach those in need and give easier access to more than 1,000 partner organizations it serves in our area.
The GCFB will repurpose its facility on South Waterloo Rd., turning it into a place where it can connect its clients with the social services they need to help eliminate hunger.
“We are grateful for the KeyBank Foundation’s amazing generosity and joining us in our efforts to address food insecurity with this donation,” said Kristin Warzocha, Greater Cleveland Foodbank President and CEO. “As a community foodbank, we rely on a strong public-private partnership to serve our clients every day. With the expansion, this partnership and support from organizations like KeyBank are more important than ever in our fight against hunger in the counties we serve.”
The money comes from a grant that is part of KeyBank's $40 billion National Community Benefits Plan.
“Simply put, it is unacceptable that anyone in any community should go hungry. Fighting food insecurity is crucial to ensure that Northeast Ohio and all of the communities we serve are healthy, inclusive and vibrant,” said Timothy Burke, KeyBank Northeast Ohio Market President. “We are proud to support the Greater Cleveland Food Bank as they work to distribute food more efficiently and strengthen collaborations with partners. Most importantly, this grant will help in work that is underway to solve the root causes of food insecurity that contribute to economic instability in our community.”
The GCFB is the largest distributor of emergency food in Northeast Ohio. It serves a six-county area and collaborates with more than 1,000 partner agencies.
Since 2005, the GCFB has tripled its food distribution, quintupled meal production and is operating beyond its current space's capacity. The pandemic has further stretched resources, both for the GCFB and the community it serves. One in six Northeast Ohioans experiences food insecurity.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The video in the player below is from a previous, unrelated story.