Second Harvest March drive tops $106K to help the hungry
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
alcorn@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley’s 2010 annual Harvest for Hunger raised $106,097 and 35,817 pounds of food.
In 2009, Harvest for Hunger garnered $103,339 and 46,117 pounds of food, said Michael Iberis, Second Harvest executive director.
Harvest for Hunger is a monthlong food-and-funds drive conducted in March to replenish food-bank shelves during the spring and summer months when donations traditionally taper off, Iberis said.
All funds raised and food collected remain in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, he said.
“The Mahoning Valley is witnessing an economic ground zero every day in the form of longer lines at food pantries and other depressing indications of our bad economy,” Iberis said.
Second Harvest is focused on the plight of citizens who are reeling from the dire economic conditions, such as high unemployment, that have sent people in droves to seek food assistance, he said.
“However, while we know that people in the Mahoning Valley are hurting, the results of the Harvest for Hunger campaign this year clearly demonstrate that those who are in a position to give and to help are doing so,” he said.
Harvest for Hunger campaign sponsors were: The Vindicator, WFMJ & WBCB, Giant Eagle, Cumulus Radio stations Y-103, K-105, HOT 101 and Rock 104, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 880 and Time Warner Cable.
The food bank provides food to 11,000 people each week in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
In 2009, Harvest for Hunger raised $103,339 and 46,117 pounds of food. That same year, the food bank distributed 7.4 million pounds of food in the tri-county area.
Between 2005 and 2009, the food bank served 64 percent more people.
For every $1 received, the food bank can distribute $15 worth of food.
51 percent of families served by member agencies report having to choose between paying for food and paying utility bills.
35 percent of families served by member agencies report having to choose between paying for food and purchasing medications.
Source: Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley