Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank President Dan Flowers (second from left) poses for a photo with his son Andy Flowers (far left), brother David Flowers (second from right) and Ricky Allen of Cleveland Clinic Akron General (far right) during kickoff for the organization's 28th-annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign. (Submitted)

Akron, Ohio - The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is again calling on the community to help feed hungry families across northeast Ohio through its 28th-annual Harvest for Hunger campaign. 

Harvest for Hunger is the food bank's largest fundraising initiative. Funds raised during this annual campaign help support food distribution all year long in the organization's eight-county service area that includes Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties.  

The organization officially kicked off this year's campaign with a breakfast at the John S.  Knight Center with than 500 community supporters in attendance. Their goal this year is to raise $1.32 million and 100,000 pounds of food, which equates to more than 5.3 million meals for food-insecure individuals and families. 

The kickoff featured a surprise performance from the Buchtel Community Learning Center drum band and a speech from David Flowers, the brother of Foodbank President and CEO Dan Flowers. He highlighted the importance of the community coming together to support one another.

“What the world needs now and always, is love, sweet love,” he said. “As business leaders, people of influence, staff and supporters of the Foodbank and its mission, you have an opportunity to make a significant impact by simply being present for the people in your life. That’s ultimately the most meaningful thing we have to give.”

The 2019 campaign is being headed up by Cleveland Clinic Akron General President Dr. Brian Harte and Day Ketterer managing partner Robert Roland.

To learn more about the campaign or learn how you can get involved, visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/hfh or facebook.com/akroncantonfoodbank.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a nonprofit organization with a vision of a thriving community free of hunger. This year, 1 in 7 people in Northeast Ohio will face hunger, and the Foodbank will be there to help. The Foodbank is the source of emergency food for nearly 500 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs that directly serve individuals and families in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. The Foodbank, with its supporters and partners are leading the fight to end hunger in the communities they serve. In 2018, it helped provide access to food for 24.5 million meals to its network of hunger-relief partners.