About Operation Feed For 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. When everyone does a little, the Foodbank can do a lot! Mid-Ohio Foodbank distributed nearly 34 million pounds of food last year, enabling its partner agencies across 20 counties to provide food for more than 52,000 meals each day. Operation Feed efforts help stock the shelves of these food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters throughout central and eastern Ohio.

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Who Needs Help?

Thousands of people in central and eastern Ohio are facing hunger. People who never thought this could happen to them are struggling just to get by. Many are faced with difficult situations, having to choose between paying for housing, utilities or medical expenses and putting food on the table.

• More than 248,000 individuals receive emergency food each year through Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
• 36% of food requests from pantries are for children.
• 13% are for senior citizens.
• Only 5% of clients are homeless; 1 in 5 is a homeowner.
• 18% of those seeking assistance have been in managerial or professional jobs.

To learn more about hunger in our community, read Operation Feed’s Need and Impact Fact Sheet.

The Challenge

Operation Feed raises food and funds to help ensure that no one in our community has to face hunger. The goal for  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.

Bring the Essentials

Make the biggest impact by providing a financial donation or bringing in these most-needed foods.

• Pasta meals in a can
• Canned Fruit
• Tuna
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned meat
• Soup
• Peanut Butter

Please note: We are not able to accept perishable, homemade, home-canned and outdated food, bulk packages weighing more than five pounds or food in glass containers.

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:

• Greg Behnke, UFCW Local 1059
• Shawna Bosse, OhioHealth
• Kevin Brady, American Electric Power
• Christi Cabungcal, Franklin University
• 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
• Deb Hill, U.S. Bank
• 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
• Shelly Lewis, Limited Brands
• Cathy Lyttle, Worthington Industries
• 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

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

Marketing Committee:

• Katie Robinson, Alliance Data
• Christina Christian, Yelp
• Rebekah Davis, Alliance Data
• Oyauma Garrison, Nationwide
• Dave Kelch, Community Volunteer
• Nicole Kotlan, Alliance Data
• Joan Lloyd, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Monica McKay, Market Group One
• Andrew Murphy, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Kelly Pettinger, Alliance Data
• Leighann Poplaski, Levy & Associates
• Dan Roffino, Ideal Marketing Solutions
• Alice Smith, Alliance Data
• Kelly Truitt, Alliance Data
• Lauri Tucker, Motorists Insurance

Young Professionals Group:

• Dustin Blake, Plymale & Dingus
• Stephanie Campolo, United Way of Central Ohio
• Kristin Mele Grosso, Pizzuti
• Misty Jordan, Radio One
• Larry Lanham, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP
• Ashley Lester, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
• Jamie Levine, OSU John Glenn School of Public Affairs
• Kristie Lewis, Express
• Joan Lloyd, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Mandy Medve, SC Search Consultants
• Andrew Murphy, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
• Jennifer Van Zandt, Deloitte & Touche