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 2021, the Food Bank distributed over 10.6 million pounds of food, including over 2.8 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. Currently, member agencies handle nearly 12,000 requests for food assistance per week. 

For every $1 given, the Food Bank distributes up to $10 worth of food, or up to 5 meals.

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, rising utilities, medicine, gas and food costs often make it difficult for many families to make ends meet.

Each week, over 12,000 requests for food assistance are filled by 163 programs in the Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. In 2021, of those who received food, 27% were children and 29% were seniors.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley

By Interrupt Hunger

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley