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YOUNGSTOWN -- Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley this week received an influx of dollars from three sources to fight hunger in the Valley.
Mahoning County commissioners on Friday gave $300,000 to the food bank to provide food to, and better assist, the agency's hunger-relief partner programs and school pantries.
"This will benefit our partners and get more food to more people," Michael Iberis, Second Harvest's executive director, said during a news conference Friday morning at the agency, 2805 Salt Springs Road, on the West Side.
During the event, commissioners distributed a check in that amount.
Specifically, the funds will be used to further help Second Harvest's 45 hunger-relief programs and organizations at many area churches and partner agencies, along with 15 school pantries, in Mahoning County distribute food to those in need.
The money, which will be disbursed over a two-year period in $150,000 increments, is part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The act, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, was passed in March to accelerate the nation's recovery from the health and economic consequences of the pandemic, as well as the recession that resulted.
Largely because of the health crisis, Second Harvest saw a heightened need in the community in 2020. Last year, the food bank distributed a record 15.6 million pounds of food in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, including more than 5.2 million pounds of fruits and vegetables. Agency partners in Mahoning County distributed 6,979,000 pounds of food, according to the agency.
"We know families in Mahoning County are hurting. Pantries are going to be full again," Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said.
Second Harvest also has a $20,000 grant from Shipt to help provide food to children. The grant will provide for 120,000 more meals this summer in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
"We are grateful for Shipt's commitment to helping children facing hunger. The last thing on a child's mind should be where their next meal will come from," Mike Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, said.
Shipt is a same-day delivery service with a network of 300,000 personal shoppers nationwide. Through its Summer Feeding Program Grant, Shipt has supported 13 Feeding America food banks this year. It is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp.
Also gifting Second Harvest is local farmer Alice Campbell, who recently directed a $2,500 Bayer Fund America's Farmers Grow Communities donation to the food bank. The food bank will use the funds to help families and children in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
"We appreciate Trumbull County farmer Alice Campbell for selecting Second Harvest Food Bank to receive this donation which will provide 15,000 meals in the Mahoning Valley," said Iberis.
Since 2010, the America's Farmers programs have awarded more than $59 million to nonprofits, aspiring agriculture students and public schools across rural America.
Second Harvest distributes the food to 160 hunger-relief programs in the three counties. These include shelters for women suffering abuse, after-school programs, homeless shelters, church pantries and soup kitchens.
For every $1 donated, the food bank distributes $11 worth of food, or about six meals, according to the agency.