Taste of the Valley raises $630K for Second Harvest Food Bank

YOUNGSTOWN — Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley’s 17th annual Taste of the Valley raised enough funds to provide $630,000 worth of food to families in need.

At the beginning of the month, 26 Valley restaurants joined together to prepare dishes for the 600 guests at Stambaugh Auditorium for the annual event.

“Taste of the Valley is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” said Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest.

Chef judges from outside the area selected these restaurants for awards: Tapazza, Youngstown, best appetizer; Scacchetti’s, Boardman, best entre; Nicolinni’s Ristorante, Boardman, best dessert; and Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, Hanoverton, best overall.

Second Harvest feeds 9,100 people in Columbiana, Trumbull and Mahoning counties every week with the assistance of the 165 relief organizations that work with the food bank.