Community Thank You

When you live in a community like Geauga County, uncertainty easily turns to hope. Our nation has been suffering the effects of a pandemic for much longer than anyone had anticipated. Despite heartache and struggle there is still the good shining bright. The Geauga Hunger Task Force has been humbled by the outpouring of support during the pandemic. It is truly remarkable how compassion continues to live on sustaining our work. While we are profoundly proud of what the Geauga Hunger Task force has accomplished during such trying times, we know it is only due to our donors and volunteers. Loving monetary donations came in like a tsunami. We are so grateful for the time, the money, the sacrifice, the creativity - all of it!

• Geauga 4-H Clubs and Dr. Augustine Kellis for the successful food/cash donation drives each summer
• Local Grocery Stores: Walmart, Aldi and Giant Eagle for weekly donations
• Local Schools, clubs and organizations for their food drives
• Food distribution drive up partnership with the Cleveland food bank and United Way
• And our countless, big hearted volunteers

We were able to offer food distribution for up to 200 families a week during 2020 and 2021 through a partnership with United Way and the Cleveland Food bank. A newly implemented drive-up process was used by the pantries to serve the community while keeping both clients and volunteers safe.  While maintaining our assistance to the 5 pantries across the country, we also continue to increase our partnerships in the community to include grants for even more organizations every year. We assisted Nexstep with food for their young adults, Chagrin Falls Community center for meals for seniors and Home delivered meals to those disabled under 60 through United Way. In 2022, we added DDS in Middlefield for nutritional formulas, assisted several churches food ministries, supported Women Safe, helped fund a gift card program to help college students at Kent State and continued providing money for Claridon Community Helps for their amazing school age summer meals program.

As government funded financials assistance has ended, the pantries have seen a return of their clients and an increased need for volunteers. Although the donations have now slowed, they are still coming from generous people and we are confident that together, we will get through whatever life throws at us next. We are ready to continue to serve the residents of Geauga County and to fulfill our mission of ensuring that no resident of Geauga County goes hungry.