Emerson pupils learn about altruism

The organization expects to distribute 5 million pounds of food this year.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Pupils at Emerson Elementary School in Warren donated $1,000 in pennies to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley's Harvest for Hunger campaign in March.
The Emerson children are an example of the generosity and caring that resulted in the 2006 Harvest for Hunger, garnering $56,000 in cash and 27,000 pounds of food, said Michael Iberis, Second Harvest executive director.
The need for food increases as more and more people fall into the ranks of the working poor, Iberis said Tuesday at Second Harvest's wrap-up of the Harvest for Hunger campaign and observance of National Hunger Awareness Day.
The event took place in the food bank offices and warehouse at 2805 Salt Springs Road.
The Emerson pupils collected 100,000 pennies weighing between 600 and 700 pounds during the last two weeks of March, said Kary Volpi, a first-grade teacher at the school. Volpi is also an adviser for the Emerson Student Council, which spearheaded the effort.
Emerson was among 71 local companies, schools and organizations that raised $31,000 through fund raisers and special events during March.
Giant Eagle and TOPS stores, among the sponsors of the Harvest for Hunger, raised $18,000 and $6,459, respectively, Iberis said. Other Harvest for Hunger sponsors include WFMJ/WBCB, The Vindicator, WHOT 101, and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880.
Second Harvest
Iberis said Second Harvest distributed 4.5 million pounds of food in 2005, and expects to distribute 5 million pounds of food this year, double the amount distributed five years ago.
One of the jobs of the food bank's board is to be a good steward of the money it receives, said Thomas Biviano, board president. He said that 97.7 percent of each dollar donated goes toward the distribution of food and 2.3 percent for administrative costs.
"The face of hunger in our community may come as a surprise to many people," Iberis said. "It is a disgrace that we are living in a day when millions of adults, hard-working families with children, and seniors are forced to make difficult choices between food and daily necessities."
Representatives of the Mahoning Valley's faith community also spoke about the growing hunger problem.
"It is scandalous that in this time of abundance that millions of people of all ages struggle under the weight of hunger and poverty," said Rabbi Franklin W. Muller of Rodef Sholom Temple, Youngstown. He said the Jewish community collects funds through a national program, some of which comes to Second Harvest.
The Rev. Richard Kimbrough, pastor of Fellowship Church of God In Christ in Struthers, said he is grateful for Second Harvest which supports the church's food pantry the third Thursday of the month.
"We all live in areas where we have poor and sick people," said the Rev. Mary Murtha, pastor of the Rogers United Methodist Church and the New Springfield United Methodist Church. The Feed My Sheep food pantry at Rogers UMC feeds 50 to 80 families once a month with food from Second Harvest, she added.
alcorn@vindy.com