Requests for food aid up 38% in tri-county area

By William k. Alcorn

Last year, $100,000 and 25,000 pounds of food were collected.

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 the 18th annual Harvest for Hunger on 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 monthlong food and fund drive is to fill up the Second Harvest warehouse shelves with food for spring and summer. But, Politi said, Second Harvest can’t face this adversity alone. “We do it with your help,” he said to affiliate representatives and corporate sponsors.

Last year during the Harvest for Hunger, the Mahoning Valley community raised some $100,000 and collected 25,000 pounds of food, Martinez said.

In these tough economic times, “we need to take action, and you are the ones who take the action,” U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan said to the Second Harvest staff and other Second Harvest supporters at the event.

“What you are doing here is important. You are changing peoples’ lives,” said Ryan of Niles, D-17th.

Corporate sponsors of the 2009 Harvest for Hunger are Giant Eagle, WFMJ and WBCB, The Vindicator, K-105 and Y-103, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880, and Time Warner Cable.

All funds and food collected stays in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, the area served by the 155 hunger relief organizations to which Second Harvest provides food.

People or groups interested in conducting food or funds drives can get information by calling Becky Miller at (330) 792-5522, ext. 20. Individuals can donate at any Giant Eagle or Sparkle Market by using tear-off coupons at the register and the collection bin at the front of the store.

alcorn@vindy.com