The day after a deal was struck to end a federal government shutdown that has delayed critical food assistance for people in need, community members still turned out in force with donations collected by a coalition of local partners to help the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank serve the hungry.
Democratic State Rep. Veronica Sims of Akron, Metro Regional Transit Authority, Arlington Church of God and the United Black Firefighters of Akron collected 3,756 pounds of food for the food bank at METRO’s Stuff the Bus event on Nov. 13 at the Arlington Church of God. Donors included Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, whose office posted that it collected several bags of toiletries and non-perishable food items “to help our neighbors in need.”
Food bank spokeswoman Raven Gayheart said the total collected food represents 3,130 meals for hungry families in the area.
“I think it’s just a great representation of what we can do when we work together,” said Gayheart, “and I think that this community does that often and it’s just so amazing to be a part of.”
“We have been so overwhelmed by the generosity of this community,” Gayheart said, adding that the food bank is serving more people than it ever has. In the second week of November, she said, the food bank and its satellite pantries across eight counties served 40% more people than it did during the same period last year. The organization provides food to partners in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
“It was a really cool effort to see a METRO bus full of food donations come to the food bank yesterday,” she said.
The federal government shutdown, which lasted a record 43 days and ended late Nov. 12 with President Donald Trump’s signature on a bill that resumes funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other key programs, hastened efforts across Northeast to aid individuals and families struggling to put food on the table.
On Nov. 12, the Foodbank held its largest distribution in the organization’s history, said Gayheart, giving out 271,357 pounds of food which is equivalent to 226,130 meals. This is abnormal. She explained that on a typical distribution day, the food bank will give out approximately 159,000 pounds of food.
Food donations aren’t the only way people can aid the food bank. Financial contributions help as well.
“Every dollar donated helps provide food for three meals,” Gayheart said. Even before the government shutdown, increased food demand and federal and state budget cuts have had the food bank buying more food than ever.
“We’re down about 36% from government food support,” she said.
While the food bank accepts food donations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Gayheart said the organization knows that’s not convenient for everyone, and there’s been an outpouring of support from various groups clamoring for an opportunity to help. So, she said, the food bank’s Akron campus at 350 Opportunity Parkway and its Canton location at 1365 Cherry Ave NE will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to take donations on Nov. 15 and Nov. 22.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Outpouring of donations brings nearly 2 tons of food to Metro Stuff the Bus event
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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