Second Harvest giving food away Friday at Canfield Fairgrounds
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Members of the Ohio National Guard will distribute food for The Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley at the Canfield Fairgrounds on Friday as the first of several "pop-up" distributions planned in the Valley.
Second Harvest’s Becky Miller Page revealed on WFMJ Today that the distribution is scheduled for 2 pm Friday. However, cars should line up no earlier than 1 pm.
The Food Bank is preparing for over 500 cars, and the distribution includes a box filled with shelf-stable items, fresh milk and produce.
Recipients will enter the fairgrounds through Gate 8 and exit through Gate 5.
In order to partake in this zero contact distribution, your trunk must be open and clear of all other belongings and your windows must be rolled up.
Recipients are not to exit their vehicle for any reason. Because the demand is so great, this distribution will be limited to one family per car.
The Traveling Food Pantry is a new program of Second Harvest Food Bank, operating as a direct result of COVID-19.
“The number of people in line at food pantries in our community has increased well over 30 percent since the onset of this pandemic,” said Michael Iberis, executive director, Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Traveling Food Pantry will operate as a pop-up distribution site throughout Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
The Traveling Food Pantry will be at Maplewood High School at 11 AM on Monday, April 20 and at Beaver Local Schools on Friday, May 1.
Additional distributions are being planned.
Because food banks and similar organizations are staffed by a large number of volunteers who are high-risk and encouraged to stay home during this pandemic, Governor DeWine signed a proclamation authorizing the Ohio National Guard to assist organizations that need help with the normal operations of distributing food and supplies.
The Food Bank is a storehouse for large quantities of donated food and USDA commodities that are distributed to 160 hunger-relief organizations and programs located throughout our tri-county service area.