39,000 Pounds of Food Delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio

What does Second Harvest of North Central Ohio and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have in common? They are bringing HOPE to our area! For the past 38 years, Second Harvest has been the leader in alleviating hunger in the communities of Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain Counties. “But, with the recent pandemic the need has risen to an all-time high in Second Harvest’s history, says Susan Bartosch, Director of External Affairs. We are now serving 4,000 families per week, an estimated 12,000 individuals, that comes to 200,000 pounds of food per week, two-thirds of these families are first time clients. They have either been directly affected by the virus, they have lost their jobs or have been furloughed either temporarily or permanently.”

Sandra Hruza, Communications Specialist of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “When Michael Snyder, President of the Cleveland Ohio Stake, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which makes up nine local congregations in the Northern Ohio Area, heard of the incredible need for food in our area, he went to work acquiring two truckloads of food from Salt Lake City for Second Harvest.” The first of two truckloads was delivered on April 30th a 53 foot semi-truck holding 39,000 pounds of food and commodities. The shelves at Second Harvest were almost bare of pasta and vegetable oil. Their suppliers were running behind on some of the needed items. However, the National Guard, who are assigned as volunteers, were able to unload boxes and boxes of pasta along with sauces, flour, sugar and vegetable oil. They were able to put together meal kits including baking items. Bartosch said, “Everyone was so excited to see the food, it was perfect…we could see the miracles.”

The Church is continuing to distribute cash and commodities in response to an unprecedented number of humanitarian requests from around the world. To date, Latter-day Saint Charities has initiated 280 COVID-19 relief projects in over 80 countries. Within the United States, 15 truckloads of commodities from the Church’s network of bishops’ storehouses are being delivered each week to food banks and other charitable organizations across the country such as Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. The Church uses tithing from church members to purchase the food that was donated. Church members fast for two meals a month and give the money to the church to support people across the country who are in need. In addition to these donations, the Church provides volunteers through JustServe to coordinate local service opportunities.

Photos: With Permission from Kacy Porter, Food Resource Coordinator at Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.