YOUNGSTOWN - The Mahoning Valley community raised $151,720 and collected more than 41,000 pounds of food to feed people in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties through Harvest for Hunger, a food and funds drive that took place during March and April to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
Michael Iberis, executive director of the food bank, said the success of the annual campaign is credited to the leadership of the campaign sponsors and to the individuals that gave through ''Check Out Hunger'' at Giant Eagle and Sparkle stores and to the companies, organizations and schools that held food and fund drives.
"Harvest for Hunger helps us stock the shelves for the summer months when children are home from school and relying on food pantries and soup kitchens for food," Iberis said.
The food bank provides food to 153 hunger-relief organizations in the tri-county area, including faith-based pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens, shelters for battered women and after-school programs. Each week, the food bank and its member agencies fill more than 13,000 requests for food assistance.
For more information, call 330-792-5522.