Community leaders and campaign coordinators rallied Friday at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to celebrate the success of the 2017 Harvest for Hunger campaign.
The campaign raised $1,262,933, exceeding the goal of $1.25 million.
The campaign involved pancake breakfasts, small donations at groceries, food and fund drives at area businesses and organizations and other efforts.
The campaign’s success means the food bank will be able to provide more than 5 million meals in the community, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank officials said.
The campaign also generated more than 100,000 pounds of food.
More than 200 businesses and organizations held food and fund drives.
This year’s top financial donors were FirstEnergy Corp., Akron Children’s Hospital, Shearer’s Snacks and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. The National Association of Letter Carriers had the largest food drive this year, collecting more than 35,000 pounds through the Stamp Out Hunger collection.
Local supermarkets raised $515,291 and 2,871 pounds of food through Check Out Hunger, which allowed shoppers to scan coupons and make donations at the checkout register. Participating supermarkets included Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle and Heinen’s Fine Foods.
Beacon Journal Publisher Mark Cohen and GateHouse Ohio Media Publisher Jim Porter were the leaders of the 2016 effort.
For more information or to donate, visit akroncantonfoodbank.org or call 330-535-6900.