Food bank gets $5K donation from foundation

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ward Beecher Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to support capital improvements.

The funds will be used to purchase a new furnace that will replace the food bank’s current unit on Salt Springs Road on the city’s West Side.

The food bank’s current furnace is 16 years old and in need of costly repairs.

“A new furnace will ensure the food bank is operating more efficiently,” said Michael Iberis, the food bank’s executive director, adding that he thanked the foundation for its continued support.

Second Harvest distributes food to 153 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.