SECOND HARVEST Fund and food drive raises nearly $44,000

The number of hungry people in the community continues to increase.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Second Harvest Food Bank raised nearly $44,000 and 20,000 pounds of food from this year's Harvest for Hunger campaign, a fund and food drive that took place in March in 19 counties of northeast Ohio.
"We greatly appreciate the support and hard work of our grocery store sponsors, Giant Eagle, Sparkle Markets and Tops Stores. They displayed coupons for their shoppers to make a financial donation and served as food collection sites," said Mike Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest.
Media sponsors for the event were The Vindicator, WFMJ and Cumulus Radio stations. Iberis also thanked members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880.
The amount raised this year was the largest ever, and Second Harvest said it appreciates the efforts of all the individuals, businesses and corporations that contributed. They include: Ohio Edison, Delphi Packard, the Lucky Llamas, Randy Arnold and Commercial Metal Forming, Trumbull Community Technical College, First Place Bank, Curves, St. Christine Catholic School, Poland High School Leadership and Pampered Chef.
Scope of problem
"The number of hungry people in our community continues to increase", said Iberis, "and these funds have enabled us to bring in nearly 150,000 pounds of fresh produce as well as pay transportation costs for donated products."
Last year, Second Harvest Food Bank distributed 4.1 million pounds of food through hunger-relief organizations such as churches, homeless shelters and soup kitchens. For every $10 given, $103 worth of food is distributed to hungry families in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. For more information about Second Harvest, call (330) 792-5522.