Harvest for Hunger drive begins at food bank

All food and funds collected here stay here.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- "We have to do a better job of combating the sting of hunger," said state Rep. John Boccieri at Friday's kickoff of the 15th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign at the Second Harvest Food Bank.
During the past five years, the percentage of people living in poverty in Ohio has risen from 12 percent to 17 percent, which means more people are hungry, said Boccieri, of New Middletown, D-61st.
The Harvest for Hunger campaign takes place during March in 19 counties in Northeast Ohio.
All money and food collected in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties stays here, however, said Michael Iberis, Second Harvest executive director.
Harvest for Hunger raised $40,000 and 17,000 pounds of food in 2005 in the tri-county area. The goal this year is $50,000 and 20,000 pounds of food, Iberis said.
"The real heroes are the people who distribute the food at the local food pantries and kitchens. They see the face of hunger ... the faces of people in dire need, most of whom are the working poor," Iberis said.
He urged organizations and individuals to call Second Harvest at (330) 792-5522 and find out how they can conduct food and funds drives.
Organizations involved
Iberis praised the TOPS and Giant Eagle grocery stores for their involvement in the fight against hunger, and he introduced representatives of several other organizations that are running Harvest for Hunger campaigns during March.
Among them are the Youngstown SteelHounds, which is offering vouchers to a future hockey game to every fan who brings at least two cans of food to the March 17 game, and to every fan who brings a box of macaroni and cheese to the March 18 game, called "cheesy noisemaker" night.
The local Curves organization will waive its service fee in March for everyone who brings in a bag of groceries. And the Pampered Chef organization, under the auspices of its Round-Up from the Heart program, will ask customers to round off the cost of their orders to the next highest dollar, and give the difference to the food bank.
The Vindicator, one of the Harvest for Hunger sponsors along with WFMJ-TV, will include a grocery baglike insert in a future edition to remind readers about Harvest for Hunger and provide information on how to contribute.
Youth groups
The LLucky Llamas 4-H Club of Mahoning County and Girl Scout Troop 397 in Lake Milton are examples of youth groups running Harvest for Hunger drives in March.
"It feeds hungry people," was 12-year-old Amber Adams' straightforward reason for working on the food drive.
"Pretty much everyone should do it [run a drive]. The more people, the more food," said Danielle Metts, 12. Both girls are members of Troop 397.
alcorn@vindy.com