Collaboration will help give the six food banks the ability to provide millions of healthy meals to Ohioans in need

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is committing $295,000 to Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; HEART Food Pantry; Second Harvest Food Bank, Clark, Champaign, Logan; Second Harvest Food Bank, North Central Ohio; West Ohio Food Bank; and Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. This support will help the food relief organizations feed thousands of additional families across the state, and it expands on Anthem’s existing commitment to help fight food insecurity.

These funds will help meet a critical need as nearly one in five Ohioans lack reliable access to healthy food – according to data available at “Close to Home,” a social driver of health information tool available through Anthem, Inc., the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

“We have been connected to Ohio communities for more than 80 years and are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our neighbors by addressing the many factors that influence health, including access to healthy food,” said Neil Steffens, President of Anthem’s Medicare Central Region. “Working together with community partners, like these six organizations, will have a greater impact on addressing food insecurity than individual efforts.”

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is the source of emergency food and other essential items to 580 hunger-relief programs in eight Northeast Ohio counties. These programs operate food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters, children and senior programs, and other hunger-relief programs in communities where people need food. With Anthem’s support, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank will be able to distribute thousands of pounds of food through its new mobile pop-up pantry, the equivalent of 80,000 meals for Northeast Ohioans struggling with hunger. The Foodbank’s pop-up pantry provides food access to neighborhoods with limited food resources.

“We’re beyond thankful and humbled by Anthem’s desire to support local hunger-relief efforts. Because of their generosity, we can help eliminate the difficult decisions families are often forced to make, like choosing between groceries and other essential expenses,” said Foodbank President and CEO Dan Flowers. “Partnerships like Anthem help fuel our work, which ultimately serves as the difference between hunger and hope for our neighbors in need.”

HEART (Helping Eastside and Reynoldsburg Thrive) Food Pantry aims to nourish hungry neighbors with healthy nutritious food and connects them with life-building resources so they can flourish for a lifetime. Through its collaboration with Anthem, HEART Food Pantry will be able to help more than 24,000 people distributing more than 2.6 million meals at 2021 food distribution events.

“We value the extensive partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” noted Cheryl Wooten, Executive Director of HEART. “This partnership has blessed us with meaningful resources to provide to our neighbors in need. Our mission of Nourish to Flourish includes healthy food in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective and quality services, of which Anthem is a key partner. Their presence in our market provides a hands-on approach of on-time services and building key relationships. Thank you!”

By leveraging Anthem’s support, Second Harvest Food Bank, Clark, Champaign, Logan will be able to acquire more than 375,000 meals and help 25,000 families in need. The food bank works to alleviate hunger in its tri-county service area by sourcing and distributing nutritious food to people in need, building community partnerships, and mobilizing the public to support hunger relief.

“Anthem’s funding will make a huge impact in our community. It is important to collaborate with community partners to reduce food insecurity. The funds will allow Second Harvest Food Bank CCL to purchase nutritional food for families who are struggling. The support helps bring stability and hope to households,” shared Tyra L. Jackson, Executive Director.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley believes that no one should go hungry and they are dedicated to building a community that makes food accessible to all people. In collaboration with Anthem and with its financial support, the food bank will be able to give 300,000 meals to people in Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties. The food bank regularly works with 160 organizations and programs throughout its tri-county service area to help those in need.

“We are grateful to Anthem for this generous gift which will be used to purchase additional produce,” said Michael Iberis, executive director, Second Harvest Food Bank. “This support will go a long way in helping us fill nearly 14,000 requests for food assistance each week in the Mahoning Valley.”

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio aims to grow hope in the region by creating pathways to nutritious food and create a brighter future for all by cultivating a healthy, hunger-free community. With the support of Anthem, the food bank will be able to help more than 154,000 people in its service area by giving them more than 500,000 meals.

Julie Chase Morefield, President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, said, “Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has a great presence in our area and we are happy and very grateful they are taking action to combat hunger locally. We’ve all seen how hunger insecurity takes a toll on every community, some more than others. But with this kind of help we can feed so many families.”

Through the financial support from Anthem, West Ohio Food Bank will be able to secure more than 150,000 meals that will be given to approximately 2,000 unduplicated people at the more than 25 food distribution events the food bank will hold in the next year. West Ohio Food Bank believes everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food.

“We are very humbled and thankful for the continued generous support and partnership that we have with Anthem. Our relationship has become stronger over the years and their passion for wanting to help our food insecure neighbors is overwhelming. We truly appreciate everything they have and continue to do with us.” Tommie Harner, CEO of West Ohio Food Bank Executive.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield.

About Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

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 may face hunger and the Foodbank will be there to help. The Foodbank is the source of emergency food for more than 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 against hunger in the communities they serve. In 2020, it helped provide access to food for 27.4 million meals to its network of hunger-relief partners. To join the hunger-relief efforts, please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org or facebook.com/akroncantonfoodbank.

About HEART, Helping Eastside And Reynoldsburg Thrive, Franklin, Licking

HEART is a faith-based organization providing nutritious food and resources to accomplish the mission of Nourish to Flourish. As a partner with Mid-Ohio Food Collective, HEART has access to high quality and nutritious food to Nourish our neighbors in Franklin and Licking Counties. HEART offers connections and direct services of needed wrap-around services, workforce development, healthcare, financial literacy, educational classes to build positive life skills which empowers neighbors to Flourish. HEART provided over 2.5 million meals in 2020 and celebrates 10 years of serving and looks forward to expansion initiatives to broaden our vision and mission.

About Second Harvest Food Bank, Clark, Champaign, Logan

Second Harvest Food Bank of Champaign, Clark and Logan Counties, a member of Feeding America, serves the Tri-County community by sourcing, collecting, storing and distributing millions of pounds of food to 65+ non-profit member agencies who feed those in need directly. Second Harvest is focused on bringing healthy, nutritious food to those in our communities struggling with hunger through innovative programs such as senior food initiatives, children feeding programs, and mobile pantry distributions. Second Harvest is celebrating 40 years of serving food insecure families and children in Central Ohio.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio

As the area’s largest hunger-relief organization, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio Grows Hope in our community by creating pathways for nutritious food and visions a bright future for all by cultivating a healthy, hunger-free community.

Second Harvest secures and distributes over 14 million pounds of food and grocery products annually; and works in partnership with 110 member agencies and 10+ school districts including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, Mobile School pantries, after-school programs, Mobile Produce Pantries and Mobile Pantries.

Prior to the pandemic, Second Harvest served 88,224 unduplicated individuals. Since then, Second Harvest has served 154,000 unduplicated individuals.

With nearly 1 out of 3 people in our region receiving emergency food assistance from one of Second Harvest’s agencies in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties, the need for support has never been greater. Help bring the most basic of needs – food – to the table by visiting us online at www.secondharvestfoodbank.org.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, a member of Feeding America, provides food to those in need in the tri-county area through 160 agencies and programs provided by hunger-relief organizations, which include church pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, shelters for battered women, school pantries, and after-school programs. In 2020, the Food Bank distributed over 15.6 million pounds of food. For more information on the Food Bank, please visit www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org, call 330-792-5522 or follow us on Facebook @SHFBMV.

About West Ohio Food Bank

West Ohio Food Bank is the largest food distribution system in West Ohio coordinating, collecting, warehousing and distributing food. The process of getting food to individuals in need requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. West Ohio Food Bank secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers and from government agencies, individuals and other organizations. They in turn distribute food and grocery items, ensuring the safe storage and reliable distribution of goods to local food pantries and meal programs that served over 5 million meals to children, families, seniors and other groups at risk of hunger. For more information visit us at www.westohiofoodbank.org, find us on Facebook.com/West Ohio Food Bank or follow us on twitter.com/WestOhioFB.

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