About Operation Feed

For nearly 30 years, Operation Feed has raised food and funds that provide assistance to individuals and families in need. Each year, Mid-Ohio Foodbank joins forces with local businesses, schools, civic groups, and individuals to raise critically needed resources through a community-wide drive.

If everyone does a little, Mid-Ohio Foodbank can do a lot! The Foodbank distributes over 31 million pounds of food each year, enabling its partner agencies across 20 counties to provide food for more than 47,000 meals each day. Their efforts help stock the shelves of these food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters throughout central and eastern Ohio.

Who Needs Help?

Thousands of people in central and eastern Ohio are facing hunger. They are children, elderly people, and families; they are neighbors, coworkers, and friends. More and more people—people who have played by the rules, worked all their lives, and never thought this could happen to them—are struggling just to get by. When bills loom and impossible decisions must be made, food dollars are often the first to be cut.  Meals are skipped. Parents go without to make sure a child is fed. During summer months, children lose access to school-sponsored breakfast and lunch programs, adding to already-stretched household budgets. Senior citizens on fixed incomes are often at-risk. Low-income individuals face numerous challenges finding food that is healthy, nutritious and affordable. Operation Feed raises food and funds to help ensure that no one in our community has to face hunger.

The Challenge: Join the Fight Against Hunger

The goal for Operation Feed in 2010 is raising 6 million meals ... and to get there, we need your help. The program begins in March and runs through June. Click here to learn about ways you or your organization can get involved.

Campaign Leadership

Due to dramatic increases in hunger and food needs in central and eastern Ohio, Operation Feed will expand significantly over the next several years. To support this growth, the Campaign’s traditional chair/co-chair leadership structure has transitioned to a new model led by a group called the Kitchen Cabinet. Representatives from a cross-section of local organizations provide guidance for the community-wide Campaign and reach out to companies, associations, networking groups, religious organizations, government agencies and educational institutions to facilitate growth of Operation Feed into new arenas.

Community representatives currently serving on the Kitchen Cabinet include:

• Shawna Bosse, OhioHealth
• Kevin Brady, American Electric Power
• Stephanie Campolo, United Way of Central Ohio
• Jim Carlson, American Electric Power
• Thom Coffman, Clarmont, Thom's
• Kenny Davis, Plumbers & Pipefitters L.U. 189
• Bill Diehl, Grove City Chamber of Commerce
• Bill Flaherty, Franklin County
• Oyauma Garrison, Nationwide
• Derek Grosso, CYP Club
• Kristin Mele Grosso, Pizzuti
• Sister Barbara Hahl, Mt. Carmel Health System
• Bob Himes, Central Ohio Restaurant Association
• Mark Huddy, Catholic Diocese
• Monica M. Hueckel, Law Offices of Matthew G. Kallner, LLC
• Chester Jourdan, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
• Dave Kelch, Community Volunteer
• Larry Lanham, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP
• Cathy Lyttle, Worthington Industries
• Ty Marsh, Columbus Chamber
• Mandy Medve, SC Search Consultants
• Deb Mitchell, Mid-Ohio Foodbank Board
• Deb Naymick, TALX
• Leighann Poplaski, Levy & Associates
• Katie Robinson, Alliance Data
• Michael Robinson, Nationwide
• Lou Ruscilli, Ruscilli Construction Company
• Janna Stanford, Worthington Industries
• Kathleen Trafford, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
• Jennifer Van Zandt, Deloitte & Touche
• Dr. Christopher Washington, Franklin University

Several working groups have also been established to focus on specific campaign tasks:

Marketing Committee:

• Katie Robinson, Alliance Data
• Christina Christian, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Rebekah Davis, Alliance Data
• James Donovan, Alliance Data
• Oyauma Garrison, Nationwide
• Dave Kelch, Community Volunteer
• Nicole Kotlan, Alliance Data
• Joan Lloyd, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Monica McKay, Market Group One
• Kelly Misevich, Coca-Cola Enterprises
• Andrew Murphy, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Kelly Pettinger, Alliance Data
• Leighann Poplaski, Levy & Associates
• Alice Smith, Alliance Data
• Kelly Truitt, Alliance Data

Young Professionals Group:

• Stephanie Campolo, United Way of Central Ohio
• Kristin Mele Grosso, Pizzuti
• Larry Lanham, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP
• Ashley Lester, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
• Kristie Lewis, Moochie & Co.
• Joan Lloyd, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Mandy Medve, SC Search Consultants
• Andrew Murphy, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Jennifer Van Zandt, Deloitte & Touche