Ohio National Guard to be honored at Second Harvest Food Bank
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Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley announced it will honor and thank the Ohio National Guard Tuesday.
The members of Ohio National Guard's 237th Support Battalion who have served full time at Second Harvest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March will be returning to civilian life.
The National Guard members have been instrumental in helping distribute food to member agencies and assisting with Traveling Food Pantry stops throughout the Mahoning Valley.
The Ohio National Guard's 671st Support Battalion will begin its deployment at the food bank through the end of December.
"Members of the Ohio National Guard have provided outstanding service to our community," said Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank. "These soldiers have provided a lifeline for thousands of hungry people throughout the Mahoning Valley these past several months."
Food insecurity and unemployment rates remain higher due to the effects of COVID-19. Each week, the Food Bank and its network of member agencies are providing emergency food assistance to 20,000 people in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
With the help of the Ohio National Guard, the Food Bank and its member agencies an additional 1.5 million pounds of food have been distributed compared to this time last year, including over 900,000 pounds of produce.
"As Ohioans continue to face the relentless repercussions of COVID-19, we're grateful to be able to serve our community, and we would not be able to do it without these National Guard members," said Iberis. "Their prolonged sacrifices have been so important and we thank them for their service. "