What We're Celebrating!
Our community partners make our events possible - raising crucial resources for the fight against hunger. Click on photos for larger image if available.
Big News on the Truck to Table Challenge
We’ve officially reached (and even exceeded) our goal to raise $380,000 in matching funds for the Patton’s Truck to Table Challenge. This means that we’ll soon be able to order the remaining two trucks for the Foodbank’s fleet. While the match funds have been exhausted, we’re still more than happy to accept donations to fill those trucks with healthy food for families in need.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about making a donation to fill the new trucks, please contact Greg Winslow at 614-317-9452 or Cathy Barr at 614.-317-9404. The campaign was kicked off in mid-October and finished up in the first part of January. Thanks to everyone who donated or helped spread the word about the Truck to Table Challenge!
Groupon Promotion
Earlier this year, a Groupon promotion raised over $600.00 for the Take-Home Groceries program. It will provide about 130 weekend food packages through Mid-Ohio Foodbank's backpack program for kids in our service area.
Through the backpack program, the food bank distributes food to 31 sites in both Franklin and Marion Counties, and plans to distribute backpacks filled with nutritious food twice a month at each location throughout the school year. Each backpack contains fresh fruit, macaroni, crackers or bread, cereal, shelf-stable milk, tuna or peanut butter, and one or two other snacks. Thank you to all who participated!
Newsman likes re-creating era of upheaval
(The Other Paper, Thursday, November 17, 2011) Bill Cohen is not now, nor has he ever been, a hippie. "There wasn't much money in that," he jokes.
That may surprise some folks. While Cohen is best known for his work with the Statehouse News Bureau, providing political coverage to Ohio's public radio and television stations, he's also made a name for himself by keeping the memory of the turbulent 1960s alive. He does that with his "Spirit of the 1960s Coffeehouse" shows, which combine folk songs, monologues, audio and video to capture the protest spirit of the times. Read more...
Students learn to bake bread to feed area hungry
(ThisWeek Community Newspapers, Wednesday, November 16, 2011) 
Upper Arlington grade-schoolers learned how to put a dietary staple on their families’ tables last week, while feeding hungry central Ohioans at the same time.
Students from Greensview and Windermere elementary schools have been working on a service learning project this month that pairs classrooms with a breadmaker willing to pass on her craft. Paula Gray from the King Arthur Flour Co. taught students at Greensview last Friday the art of making bread, and the students in turn took home what they learned, according to Amanda Postalakis, program organizer and the mother of a district fourth-grader. Read more...
Diaper Bank Network & Huggies Deliver Diaper Donation To MOF
(Available on Mid-Ohio Foodbank's YouTube Channel) Mid-Ohio Foodbank receives 500,000 diapers from the National Diaper Bank.
Click here to view video clip.
The Big Give was Big!
The Columbus Foundation recently held The Big Give, a campaign to raise funds for local charities. Foundation donors put up $1 million in matching funds to spur excitement and help stretch donated dollars.
Over 400 people donated to Mid-Ohio Foodbank to help feed Ohio families in need. Mid-Ohio Foodbank is extremely thankful for this show of support from all those who gave during The Big Give and helped to promote the event. Thanks also to The Columbus Foundation for on-going support of the Foodbank and the community.
Seals Golf Helps Families
Seals Construction held a golf outing on Saturday, October 1st and donated the proceeds to Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Because Mid-Ohio Foodbank is able to provide $8 worth of groceries for every $1 donated, their $2,000 donation will help a great deal of families in need.
We’re very grateful to our friends at Seals and to all the golfers who participated.
Produce Markets are a Big Hit at Broad Street
With the help of partner food pantries across our 20-county service territory, Mid-Ohio Foodbank is pleased to be offering produce markets all harvest season, like the one pictured here at The Broad Street Food Pantry.
At produce markets like this one, the Foodbank delivers several tons of fresh produce – most of which is grown here in Ohio, and hundreds of families go home with all the produce they can use.
This particular distribution at Broad Street involved the help of more than 20 volunteers and many zucchini recipes, and was shared with other pantries, Faith Mission and the Open Shelter. Additional markets are scheduled for the next few months! Know any good zucchini recipes?
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Farm Bureau, Bob Evans Donate Champion Hog
The Ohio Farm Bureau and Bob Evans Farms (pictured with the exhibitor family) purchased the reserve grand champion barrow at the Ohio State Fair's Sale of Champions. The barrow was raised by Troy Elwer from VanWert County, Ohio.
The proceeds from the sale go toward 4H and FFA educational programs and the Farm Bureau and Bob Evans generously donated the meat to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank to help feed hungry families in central Ohio.
"U.S. SUBS" Project at Salem Elementary
We’re so grateful to Ms. Catherine E. Patzer’s Students at Salem Elementary. U.S. SUBS is a yearly project where students learn how to apply and interview for jobs, how to set up and run a restaurant business, and how to work as part of a team.
To cap the project during the last week of school, students make and sell submarine sandwiches to fellow students and staff members. Each year the students decide where to donate the profits, and this year Mid-Ohio Foodbank was the lucky recipient of a whopping $562.00. Great job kids!
Giving Back on their Big Day
Congratulations to Alexandra Kelley Fox & Kevin Fox who were married on June 4th. In lieu of wedding gifts, they asked guests to donate to local charities including the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
We are so grateful to the newlyweds for thinking of those in need on their special day! Thank you!
Foodbank The Biggest Winner in Big Lots! Challenge
Big Lots! associates lost a collective 1,034 pounds over a three-month period, as part of a weight-loss challenge that also doubled as a fundraiser. Big Lots! pledged $10 to fight hunger in Central Ohio for every pound lost during its Big Loser Challenge. To recognize the weight-loss achievement, company officials presented a check for more than $10,000 to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank on June 7.
"Our purpose was two-fold," said CEO Steve Fishman, who participated in the in the weight-loss challenge for charity. "We wanted to promote the health and well-being of our associates and our community."
More than 130 associates at the company's headquarters participated by counting calories, breaking bad food habits, stepping up their exercise, and encouraging each other throughout the three months.
Buckeye Woods Students Raise Money, Grow Veggies
The Fourth Grade students at Buckeye Woods Elementary in Grove City took on a special project this spring: A school garden, equipped with seven raised beds and a rain barrel. The Fourth Graders took a trip to Mid-Ohio Foodbank last fall to prepare for their garden project this spring. Food from the garden will be donated to the Foodbank.
In addition, four students (Austin, Ben, Dakota & Adam, pictured with Foodbank staff) raised more than $2,600 for the Foodbank by holding a walk-a-thon at the school!
Way to go, Buckeye Woods!
Abbott, Other Foodbank Corporate Partners Honored
Several Mid-Ohio Foodbank partners were recognized by Columbus Business First in their “2011 Corporate Caring Awards” issue. 
Among others, Abbott Laboratories was recognized as a 2011 Honoree in the Health category:
“They’re beyond a partner,” said Jen Bowden, director of corporate and government relations with the nonprofit agency. “We consider them a friend.” The developer of nutrition products works closely with the foodbank, which supplies pantries in many Ohio counties, Bowden said. In addition to cash donations, Abbott employees work in the warehouse and help wherever they are needed, she said. The foodbank is a natural partner for Abbott, said Scott White, senior vice president for the U.S. Nutrition Division. “We partner with the (foodbank) because they share our belief that people need access to healthy, nutritious food regardless of income,” he said.
For the full list of honorees, visit the Business First website.