|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harvest for Hunger?
Harvest
for Hunger is an annual, 21-county food and fund drive and is one of the
largest in the country. In 2012
Northeast Ohioans contributed over $3.7 million and more than 405,000 pounds of
food, providing enough food for over 15 million meals. The Cleveland Foodbank organizes the campaign
in partnership with three other food banks in Northeast and North Central
Ohio. The food and funds raised support
food pantries, hot meal programs, and shelters throughout the region.
How is my donation used?
The
Cleveland Foodbank and its food bank partners use the dollars donated through
the Harvest for Hunger campaign to make food available to local hunger centers
and the clients they serve. For every
dollar donated to Harvest for Hunger, four nutritious meals will be provided to
those in need in our community.
How are donations divided among
the twenty-one counties covered by the Harvest for Hunger campaign?
The
funds that raised in your community through the Harvest for Hunger campaign
stay in your community. This means that
the dollars you donated to the campaign will help hunger centers served by your
local food bank.
Who benefits?
- 34%
are children
- 15%
are elderly
- 27%
of households have at least one member in poor health
- 39%
had to choose between paying for food or
utilities
How is $1 able to provide 4
nutritious meals?
Food
banks receive donations from food wholesalers, distributors, Feeding America,
local food drives, and other sources, such as the United States Department of
Agriculture and the Ohio Food Purchase Program.
We also purchase food by the semi-load at reduced costs. Thanks to these donations and the hard work
of more than 12,000 volunteers a year, every dollar goes a long way!
Is it best to collect food or
money?
Your
dollars go the furthest to help the hungry in our area. The Cleveland Foodbank uses dollars donated
through Harvest for Hunger to make food available to local hunger centers and
the clients they serve. This includes
donated food as well as purchased food that we pay at reduced cost. With your $1 donation, the Foodbank can
distribute food for four nutritious meals.
If we chose to do a food drive in
addition to collecting funds, what are the most-needed food items?
Although
the most-needed donation is cash, the following food items are essential to
local hunger centers: peanut butter, tuna fish, canned vegetables, canned soup,
cereal, and beef stew.
Should we purchase the
most-needed food items with the money we collect?
No.
Monetary donations are the most essential element of emergency food
assistance. The Foodbank is able to
acquire the most needed food items at prices significantly lower than what
would be available to you at retail stores.
How should we get the food and
monetary donations we collect to you?
We
consider the delivery of donated food the Foodbank to be part of your generous
contribution. You are able to drop-of
your donation Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at our facility located at
15500 South Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110. The Cleveland Foodbank is closed holidays. Please drive your car around to the back of
the building and pull up to the first garage door on the right, marked “All
Donations." Simply ring the bell to the
right of the door and a member of our staff will assist you with unloading and
weighting your donation, and a receipt will be provided.
Will you send an acknowledgment
of my donation?
Yes! All individual donors will receive a thank
you letter indicating the amount for their donation. At the end of the campaign, all companies
will receive a thank you letter indicating the total amount of food and/or fund
contributed to the campaign. Companies
that reach one of our giving levels will be recognized at the Harvest for
Hunger Recognition Ceremony and in an ad in The Plain Dealer at the end of the
campaign. We are grateful for all you do
to help the campaign!
Still have questions? Contact us.
|
