Food bank kicks off hunger campaign

By William K. Alcorn

AUSTINTOWN — The 19th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign began with a solemn reminder from officials at Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

“There is a thin line between hunger and a week of meals for a local family ... between being hungry and being fed,” said Rebecca Martinez, food bank director of resource development. “Your donation makes the difference.”

Martinez and others spoke Friday at the kickoff of the annual campaign at the food bank warehouse at 2805 Salt Springs Road.

The campaign is conducted during March when donations traditionally taper off, and it is difficult to keep warehouse shelves stocked with food, said Brian Commons, Second Harvest board president.

“We literally cannot do it without you,” Martinez said to individual and corporate sponsors.

Last year during the Harvest for Hunger, the Mahoning Valley raised more than $100,000 and collected 46,117 pounds of food, both records for the monthlong campaign.

The problem is that the need also is rising, said Commons, who said the 7.4 million pounds of food provided to its food distribution agencies in 2009 is about half of the estimated need four years ago.

There are a number of ways to contribute to the Harvest for Hunger campaign.

Visit www.harvestforhunger.org and contribute using your credit card.

Mail a check or money order to Harvest for Hunger, c/o Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, 2805 Salt Springs Road, Youngstown, OH 44509.

Individuals, families, and organizations interested in conducting a food or funds drive can contact Becky Miller, Harvest for Hunger coordinator, at (330) 792-5522 ext. 20 for information.

Shoppers also can donate at area Giant Eagle and Sparkle Market grocery stores by tearing off a coupon at the register or dropping food in the collection bin at the front of the store.

The Vindicator will place inserts in the Feb. 28 paper and every week in March that has information that can be clipped, filled out and sent with a donation to the food bank. Last year, Vindicator inserts produced $2,690.

Donors also can drop off money or food at the food bank.

Second Harvest distributes about 35,000 pounds of food per day and is providing food to some 11,000 individuals each week via 153 hunger-relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. These organizations include church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, shelters for battered women and after-school programs.

“Sometimes we get caught up in the numbers, but it is the people” who count, said Lauren Lindvig of 21 WFMJ and WBCB. “We are proud to be a part of this effort.”

Besides The Vindicator and WFMJ and WBCB, major campaign sponsors are Giant Eagle, Cumulus Radio Stations Y-103, K-105, Hot 101, Rock 104, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 880, and Time- Warner Cable.

alcorn@vindy.com