Second Harvest fills the bill for families in need

Second Harvest fills the bill for families in need

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley distributed 7.4 million pounds of food to families in need in 2009, a 16 percent increase over the previous year.

Second Harvest provides food to 153 hunger-relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, including church pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, shelters for battered women and after-school programs.

“While we are pleased that we were able to bring in more food and feed more families in our community this year, we are saddened that the need dictated this increase,” said Mike Iberis, food-bank executive director.

“Our member agencies did an amazing job of getting the food into the hands of those who need it. The need, however, is still great, and the pounds of food distributed did not meet the needs of all that are hungry,” Iberis added.

Pleasant Valley Share Outreach, a mission project of Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church on Pleasant Valley Road in Liberty, is one of Second Harvest’s member agencies.

The Pleasant Valley food pantry is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, except if it is a holiday, and limits food distribution to Trumbull County residents.

The food pantry typically provides food for 40 to 50 families a week, said Carmella Rees of Liberty, who has been a volunteer with the program for 13 years and orders the food from Second Harvest.

Food pantries and soup kitchens are intended to supplement a recipients’ food supply and get them through an emergency. A three-day supply of food is the rule-of-thumb, Iberis said.

The Pleasant Valley food pantry was started 15 years ago by John and Carol Krock, said longtime volunteer Bonnie Osborne of Warren.

“We delivered meals for the first several months, and then space became available in the church,” she said.

“Our church and congregation supports this mission. It’s a positive ministry,” said Grace Fusco of Liberty, co-chairwoman of the food program along with Sharon Rysner,

Second Harvest is a godsend, said Ernest Norton, who was at the food bank’s warehouse Thursday on Salt Springs Road, along with Sheila Riggs and her van, picking up supplies for the Southern Community Center Food Pantry, 45 E. Main St. Rear, Salineville.

Norton, food-pantry coordinator, said the pantry distributed 14 tons of food in 2009. Food is available five days a week by calling Norton at (330) 679-0424 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Member agencies reported a sharp increase in the number of seniors and working poor visiting the food banks and soup kitchens, Iberis said.

People who used to donate are now recipients, he said.

The primary cause is the economy. The Mahoning Valley has had chronic joblessness and poverty for many years, and over the last five years, it has escalated, Iberis said.

Last year was a record year of service for Second Harvest, he said.

“We are humbled by the generosity of the community, and we don’t take it for granted,” said Rebecca Martinez, director of resource development for Second Harvest.

“We are grateful to financial and food donors for their support throughout the year,” Iberis continued. “We say it time and time again, but we simply could not do what we do without the support of this community.”

alcorn@vindy.com

BY THE NUMBERS

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, affiliated with Feeding America, distributed 16 percent more food in 2009 than in 2008. A look at the agency’s numbers:

2005: Distributed 3.9 million pounds of food.

2006: Distributed 4.5 million pounds of food.

2007: Distributed 5.4 million pounds of food.

2008: Distributed 6.2 million pounds of food.

2009: Distributed 7.4 million pounds of food.

Number of 2009 visits to food pantries and soup kitchens:

Columbiana County: 99,154

Trumbull County: 154,280

Mahoning County: 428,571

Source: Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley