Small Acts, Big Impact - Why Local Food Banks Need You

According to the USDA Economic Research Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture), 47.4 million people and approximately 18% of households with children under the age of 18 living with them in the U.S. lived in food-insecure households in 2023. Statistics show that these numbers are continuing to rise into 2025, and in response to this ongoing need, caring communities everywhere are coming together to help fight against hunger in their own neighborhoods.

Recently, one of our local schools held a “Soup-er Bowl” drive right before the big game weekend, to gather cans of soup for the local food pantry.

The senior student government dressed in their favorite sports jerseys and greeted incoming students as they placed soup cans in the team’s box that they believed would win.

It was a simple and fun idea, enjoyed by all the students. More importantly, the gathering of food items through a school drive is an essential need in our local communities, and it was wonderful to see the students feeling empowered through their volunteer efforts!

A food drive is one of many ways to support a local food bank. There are lots of ways to run a successful food drive, whether through your neighborhood or your sports team. They just need a few dedicated people to run it.

What are essential items to collect for a food drive?

Essentials for a food pantry can include olive oil, peanut butter, canned proteins, pasta and pasta sauce, pantry staples, cooking essentials, and baby diapers and formula. However, it’s always best to check with your local food bank to see what items are needed most in your area, so you can be as effective with your donations as possible!

While we may never see or know personally the families that come to the food pantry to pick up essential food items, they are so grateful to have community resources and support looking out for them in their time of need.

Volunteering - Thank You for Giving of Your Time

Another way to support the local food bank is through volunteer work at the food bank. Volunteering at a food bank is one of the most beneficial things you can do as a member of your community. Since the need to provide food is urgent and ongoing, food banks are so grateful to have volunteers who willingly give their time. Whether it’s 2 hours a week or more, it is a very helpful service.

According to Localfoodbank.org, reasons for volunteering at your local food bank include:

• Helping those in need. The impact is immediate and caring!
• Building community connections. Volunteering allows you to meet friends and enrich your community.
• Developing new skills. By volunteering at your local food bank, you can learn new skills while contributing your time.

Visit and Take a Tour at Your Local Food Bank

Exploring your local food bank and taking a guided tour can be a meaningful way for you and your family—whether it's your children or grandchildren—to gain a comprehensive understanding of the vital role food banks play in supporting the community. You'll discover how volunteers contribute their time and skills, and uncover ways for you to get involved as well.

Food banks offer countless inspiring opportunities to make a difference, and visiting beforehand can help you decide the best way to lend your support.

Easy Ways to Get Involved With a Food Bank

• Reach out to your local food bank to understand when their needs are most pressing.
• Request their list of essential items to ensure your contributions are truly helpful.
• Choose a location for your food drive. Consider options like schools, neighborhoods, sports teams, or community groups.
• Design a simple flyer with clear details about your collection times and purpose, and share it widely.
• Collaborate! Remember, there are countless ways to organize and prepare a food drive! Collaborating with your local food bank is the best way to align efforts with their specific needs.

Help Local - We Support the Greater Cleveland Food Bank

Nearby to GMB, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank is a wonderful, expansive program helping thousands in need each month. In 2024, the Food Bank served over 424,000 people, and its more than 1,000 partner agencies ranging over a 6-county service area. 

In 2024, more than 15,500 volunteers contributed over 108,000 hours of service to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank! This dedicated work, both charitable giving and volunteer service hours, make a deep impact serving so many!

For more information and contact information on helping the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, please visit their Volunteer Page of their website, found here. 

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Local Family Heroes

Kids learn by example and by doing things themselves. Teaching our children about the benefits of giving back to their community is incredibly important and ensures our youngsters grow into kind, caring and helpful members of their community. 

GMB celebrates the efforts of family heroes everywhere that are including their kids in their community service!

GMB Shout Out!  A Local Food Bank Hero…

One Food Bank volunteer in our area is a grandma named Jayne, and she comes to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to volunteer with her grandchildren on a regular basis. 

Jayne says her grandkids have heard about volunteering from family, school and the faith community. She loves that taking them to the food bank is a way to transform the words and lessons they learn in those places into practice. 

The grandchildren react with enthusiasm, enjoy the service work and look forward to when they can return. They have a greater understanding that they are helping others! She says that during their working time there, they are busy and productive. When they complete their work, they can see what they have accomplished. 

There are more impactful stories from the Cleveland Food Bank about their heroes including Grandma Jayne and her grandchildren. 

Get inspired and read more hero stories and their impact here. Our Impact | Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

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Harvest for Hunger Campaign March-May 2025

Harvest for Hunger is an annual campaign that takes place in Northeast Ohio in the springtime, and covers 21 counties, and 4 local food banks. This large community food and funding drive is one of the biggest in the nation.

The Harvest for Hunger Campaign recognizes that many communities continue to face challenges in 2025, that the demand for food assistance is at an all-time high, and that many of our neighbors, including working families, are struggling to get adequate nutrition as they cope with increasing costs of living. More and more seniors on fixed incomes are also struggling to make ends meet. Because of this, Harvest for Hunger recognizes the critical role of food banks and partner agencies to remain a reliable resource.

If you are in the Northeast Ohio area and are looking for an opportunity for your family to get involved with a food or fundraising drive, this would be a good one!  If you live elsewhere, there are certainly food banks in your local area that could use your help.

If you would like to make a gift to this important campaign, please visit the Harvest for Hunger Donation link here.  Thank you! 

A Rewarding Experience - Awarding Our Volunteers

Looking for an amazing way to get children and teenagers excited about volunteering? Consider the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award! This special recognition honors individuals who dedicate a certain number of hours to service within a 12-month period.

For those aiming for the Gold Award, here’s what it takes:

• 75+ hours for kids aged 5–10
• 100+ hours for teens aged 11–15
• 250+ hours for young adults aged 16–25

Think you’ve got what it takes to meet the challenge? Why not give it a shot?

And if gold feels like a stretch, don’t worry—they also offer Bronze and Silver Awards, along with letters of recognition and beautiful coins or medallions to celebrate your hard work. 

And remember, even if you don’t qualify for a medal in the PROV program, the whole community wins when you volunteer!

You can find out lots of helpful information about this volunteer award at their website. 

One of the greatest treasures you receive from volunteering is the true joy of helping others in the community.

People strive and pay dearly to bring joy into their life, and volunteering, free and giving of oneself, is tried and true and very therapeutic! 

We encourage you and your family to visit your local food bank and to learn more about all the ways that you can help, whether volunteering a few hours per month, or holding a food drive!

As always, THANK YOU for dedicating your time to crucial community efforts like this.