CLEVELAND — Imagine not knowing where your next meal will come from.
According to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, this is the plight of one in eight people in its service area.
That is why the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which serves individuals and families in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Ashland, and Richland counties, is partnering with three other Ohio food banks on the Harvest for Hunger campaign.
The 33rd annual campaign is a 21-county food and funds drive. It takes place every spring in Northeast Ohio. Last year more than 200 companies, schools, nonprofits, and governmental entities in Northeast Ohio participated by running food and fund drives, raising $9.775 million, a new record for the food bank.
“2023 was one of our busiest years ever. We served over 400,000 people. Twenty-five percent of those people visited a food bank or one of our partners for the very first time," said Food Bank spokeswoman Karen Pozna said during an interview on WKYC Studios’ community engagement show We The People.
There are many ways to get involved. Individuals can host employee food and fund drives. Companies can help their employees increase their impact by matching employee donations. Or participate in Check Out Hunger, a cashier-led fundraising effort in grocery stores across the region that gives customers the opportunity to donate at the register. Participating stores include Buehler’s, Dave’s Markets, Giant Eagle, GetGo, Heinen’s Grocery Store, and Lucky’s Market. You can also make a donation online.
Volunteers are also needed to repack food and help prepare meals in the food bank’s kitchen. Volunteers can also assist at the food bank’s new community resource center, helping community members shop for food.
“All the money and all the food raised in this campaign stays right here helping our neighbors in need,” said Pozna.
The Harvest For Hunger campaign ends in May.