Second Harvest kicks off food drive

YOUNGSTOWN — Hunger in the Mahoning Valley is a real and growing problem say officials of Second Harvest Food Bank of the

Mahoning Valley, who kicked off their 18th annual Harvest for Hunger Friday.

Second Harvest member agencies reported a 38 percent increase in requests for help in the last six months of 2008, said Rebecca Martinez, director of resource development.

The need is increasing every day, said Jonathan Politi, president of the Second Harvest board of trustees.

The goal of the month-long food and fund drive is to fill up the Second Harvest warehouse shelves with food for spring and summer.

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