Tuscarawas County residents were given a visual demonstration via the Akron-Canton Foodbank Tuesday.

In attendance were Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen, Janet Gore from Journeys End Ministries in Newcomerstown, Dover/New Philadelphia Food Pantry Director Jack Ream, a representative from Zack Space’s Office and AEP Ohio and many foodbank volunteers.

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank President and CEO Dan Flowers says Tuesday’s demonstration with four tractor-trailers signifies the amount of food it takes to feed a community for one day.

Flowers Comments: 

Area pantry director Jack Ream says all assistance is made possible through community support.

Ream Comments: 

Flowers echoes Ream statement saying people make it possible to feed the hungry everyday.

Flowers Comments: 

Additionally, Flowers adds Tuscarawas County is one of the neediest areas.

Flowers Comments: 

In a survey released by the Foodbank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, an estimated 40,600 people receive emergency food assistance each week from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, a 28 percent increase from 2006.

Regrettably, thirty-one percent of those served are children.

Ream says although the area is in need, no one will be going hungry.

Ream Comments: 

Among the key findings in the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank report:

·        The average monthly income of a pantry client is $1,110

·         41 percent of households include at least one employed adult, an increase from 28 percent in 2006

·         23 percent of clients were late on their most recent rent or mortgage payments and 49 percent reported they had to choose between paying for food or utilities

·         83 percent of people served at shelters were homeless

·         21 percent did not have access to a working car and 27 percent regularly choose between food and transportation

·         36 percent of households report having at least one household member in poor health and 35 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care

A summary of the findings is available at www.akroncantonfoodbank.org.
The full national report is available on Feeding America's web site at Hunger in America 2010.