The Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley
The Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley is a non-profit organization committed to building a hunger-free community in Ohio's greater Mahoning Valley area. They provide food to almost all of the neighboorhoods in the Mahoning Valley with help from their partner organizations as well as donors. Last year alone SHFB of the Mahoning Valley provided 9.5 million pounds of food and 2.8 million pounds of produce to hungry children, seniors, and families and thanks to 161 partner agencies.
One of the main ways the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley operates is through its food distribution programs. These programs include their Mobile Pantry, which delivers food to people in need in more rural areas, as well as their School Pantry program, which provides food to children and families in need through schools. Additionally, they have a Senior Food Box program, which delivers monthly food boxes to seniors who may have difficulty leaving their homes.
In addition to its distribution programs, the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley also operates a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of hunger. These initiatives include their Community Greenhouse, which teaches people how to grow their own food, as well as their Community Kitchen, which provides culinary training and job skills to people in need. The food bank also works with local farmers and businesses to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and distribute it to people in need.
Despite its efforts, hunger remains a persistent issue in the Mahoning Valley area. According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study, 13.2% of the population in the Mahoning Valley is food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.
As a company committed to giving back to the community, last fall SafeOpt hosted a food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. SafeOpt employees came together to collect non-perishable food items and donated them to the food bank to help those in need. In addition to the food drive, SafeOpt also made a $500 donation to support the Second Harvest Food Bank's efforts in fighting hunger in the community. The company is proud to support such a worthy cause and looks forward to continuing to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to help build a hunger-free community.
