Mahoning Valley did itself proud

Mahoning Valley did itself proud

Second Harvest Food Bank board of directors and staff would like to congratulate the Mahoning Valley community for winning the Walmart “Fighting Hunger Together challenge” that generated $1 million for hunger relief in our community.

We are so very grateful to the community for taking the time each day to vote for the Mahoning Valley. People consistently called to let us know that they were voting and encouraging their friends, family and colleagues to do likewise. Words cannot express the pride and gratitude we feel toward the wonderful, generous people who call the Mahoning Valley home, as well as people from across the country and around the world.

We are also extremely grateful to the media and especially WFMJ and The Vindicator for helping to amass the support received. Schools, universities, companies and civic organizations and individuals got involved and helped put the Mahoning Valley over the top. We should all feel so proud that we worked together to achieve this worthy goal.

The Food Bank received $715,000 from the Walmart Foundation that will be used to increase our capacity to distribute more food, as outlined in the foundation guidelines.

The Food Bank will hold an Open House on Saturday, June 2, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and invites you to come by and hear about our plan to expand our capacity to feed more people right here in our community. The board of directors and staff will be privileged to shake as many hands as possible of those who worked so hard to make the Mahoning Valley No. 1 in the nation.

We are humbled by your generosity and grateful beyond words. Know that your support means so much to the struggling families in the Mahoning Valley that rely on the Food Bank and its member agencies to provide food.

The board of directors, the Food Bank staff, volunteers and all of those affiliated with Second Harvest Food Bank feel privileged to serve the Mahoning Valley.

Mike Iberis, Youngstown

The writer is executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.