Leadership Akron Holiday Food Drive Benefits Akron Canton Regional Foodbank

Leadership Akron’s Alumni collected 2,774 lbs. of food and $6,466 to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank at its Annual Holiday Party and New Class Reception.  Held at the recently renovated Weathervane Community Playhouse, Leadership Akron Alumni participated in the Class Challenge Cup where classes donating the most pounds of food and contributing the most dollars are recognized for their generosity. For the second year in a row, Class XXV took the Challenge Cup as they contributed over 2,000 lbs. of food and generous financial support as well. Members from the current Junior Leadership Akron Class assisted in weighing and tallying the total pounds of food. Congratulations to Class XXVI who collected about 1/3 of the cash total for the food bank at the holiday party!

Dan Flowers, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank states, "The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is so grateful to Leadership Akron for its support again this year.  Through its daily commitment to service, Leadership Akron sets the example of what leadership truly is." Mark Scheffler, Executive Director at Leadership Akron, noted that “a friendly competition is developing among Leadership Akron classes aiming to donate the most food or dollars at this event. Yet in the spirit of the season, it is an occasion for our alumni to give generously in support those most in need in our community.”

 Financial donations can make the biggest impact as the Foodbank can provide three meals for every dollar raised.  Food donations are encouraged from the list of Super Six Most Needed Items: peanut butter, boxed cereal, canned vegetables, canned tuna, canned soup and canned stew.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank feeds people and fights hunger by providing food and other essential products to more than 400 community organizations that operate  food pantries, hot meal sites and other hunger relief programs in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit,  Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. In 2008, the Foodbank distributed over 16 million pounds of food, providing 11.5 million meals locally for people in need.