About Us
History of the Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley began as The Food Assistance Warehouse in the early 1980s when a group of lay and religious leaders realized while people were going hungry, companies were throwing away still edible and nutritious food. This effort would get these companies to donate food to one central location to ease distribution to local charities who were already engaged in the fight against hunger.
The Food Bank was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in December of 1982 when it began operating as a clearinghouse for large quantities of food.
In 1994, the Food Bank became a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
As a member of Feeding America, we are the designated recipient of national food donors and retailers including Target, Aldi, Meijer and Walmart. Additionally, the Food Bank works to procure food donations from local companies like Giant Eagle and Sparkle Markets, as well as through food drives and campaigns like Harvest for Hunger and Feed our Valley
In 2023, the Food Bank distributed over 10.5 million pounds of food, including over 2.4 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. Currently, member agencies help nearly 18,000 people with food assistance per week.
For every $1 given, the Food Bank distributes up to $10 worth of food, or up to 5 meals.
Hunger in Mahoning Valley
1 in 6 people in the Mahoning Valley faces hunger.
Here in the Mahoning Valley too many seniors, families and children continue to face hunger every day. Unemployment, underemployment, low wages, inflation, rising utilities, medicine, gas and food costs often make it difficult for many families to make ends meet.
Each week, over 18,000 people receive food assistance through our 160 partners in the Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. In 2023, of those who received food, 29% were children and 25% were seniors.
So no one
goes hungry
The Feeding America National Network
As the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, Feeding America represents more than 200 member food banks across the country. Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley is an independent nonprofit organization operating and funding local programs in the Mahoning Valley – every dollar donated stays in our local community.
Get Involved
Give Food
Donations of food from community members, grocers, food distributors and farmers provide a much-needed supplement. You can help by donating nonperishable food and fresh produce. Whether you hold a food drive, give produce from your garden, or have a large industry donation, giving food is at the core of what we do.
Give Funds
$1 = up to 5 meals, so even a small donation can help a person eat for a day. Your gift will immediately fight hunger in our community. Thanks to our purchasing power through bulk ordering, monetary donations go even further. While food drives and donations are always needed, monetary donations allow us to purchase food that is needed but not always donated such as meats and fresh produce.
Give Time
Share your time, talents and blessings with Second Harvest Food Bank. Fighting hunger doesn’t always start with a meal. It starts with those who serve. Volunteers are critical in our efforts to provide healthy, nutritious food to our community whether you’re an individual, group or company.
