Still time to conduct Harvest for Hunger food/funds event

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Giant Eagle supermarkets have raised $45,988 so far through Check Out Hunger, a program of Second Harvest of the Mahoning Valley’s 24th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign. It runs through April.

Financial contributions to Harvest for Hunger can be made by customers at Giant Eagle and participating Sparkle Markets and Walgreens stores through April 11, when the campaign ends, by tearing off a $1, $5, or $10 coupon and adding the amount to their bill.

In 2014, Harvest for Hunger raised $175,849 and collected nearly 60,000 pounds of food, which translated to some 1 million meals for Mahoning Valley residents.

People interested in participating in the campaign by conducting food and/or fund drives can contact Paige Tomlinson-Miller at 330-792-5522, ext. 11, or visit www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org to download a registration form.

Other food and fund drives are planned to help stock the food bank’s shelves for the spring and summer months when donations traditionally taper off. They include:

Saturday: Llucky Llama 4-H Club will have its llamas at Tractor Supply in Austintown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will collect monetary donations.

Wednesday: Brown Bag Day, when Mahoning Valley residents are asked to pack their lunch and donate to the food bank the amount they would have spent to buy lunch. Donations can be made at www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org.

Campbell: Nonperishable food items will be collected at the water department, 351 Tenney Ave.

Columbiana: Residents can drop off nonperishable food items at City Hall, 28 W. Friend St., and the police department, 28 S. Vine St.

Youngstown: Collecting nonperishable food items at City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St.; the police department, 116 W. Boardman St. on the second and third floors; the health and water departments and waste water treatment plant, 725 Poland Ave.

Cortland Banks: Collecting nonperishable food items at its nine bank locations in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Farmers National Bank: Collecting nonperishable food items at 19 branch locations.

CarpetSmith LLC, through Tuesday: One additional room cleaned with a bag of nonperishable food.

Something Unique 4 U, Mahoning Avenue, Austintown: Receive free delivery with a nonperishable food donation.

Mastropietro Winery, 14558 Ellsworth Road, Berlin Center: Drawing for a wine basket Sunday and April 30. Receive one raffle ticket for each food item donated and for every $2 donated.

Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities: Food- collection contest during March and April among their six buildings.

Oversoyed Fine Organic Products, “Product for a Cause” campaign: Five dollars will be donated to Second Harvest for each 9-ounce peanut-butter jar candle sold.

Paige Court Neighbors, Newton Falls: Neighborhood food drive the week of April 6.

Local school events include:

Harding Elementary: During March, “Fill the Milk Crate” with two cans of food donated; students can dress down Friday.

Dobbins Elementary School, Poland: During March, schoolwide food drive.

Stadium Drive Elementary, Boardman: During April, schoolwide food drive.