The 2012 Harvest for Hunger campaign by the Akron Canton Foodbank was a rousing success, with more than $925,000 and 117,000 pounds of food raised to set a record for the agency.

Supporters say the money and food raised will help provide food to serve more than 3.7 million meals in the region. The Akron Canton Foodbank serves food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in an eight-county region including Summit, Stark, Medina, Portage, Carroll, Holmes,  Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.

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(Akron-Canton Foodbank) On Friday afternoon a group of community leaders and Harvest for Hunger campaign coordinators sat quietly listening to Ed Roth, President & CEO of Aultman Health Foundation and this year’s Harvest for Hunger campaign co-chair, talk about the campaign. However, after a few minutes into Roth’s speech the crowd was taken by surprise.

Approximately 40 Foodbank supporters, employees and board members (seen at left courtesy Akron Canton Foodbank) spontaneously performed a dance to “Celebrate Good Times” by Cool and the Gang. 

The flash mob was part of an effort to announce the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign total, a record-breaking $925,549 and 117,000 pounds of food.

“Today is all about celebrating the extraordinary efforts of the many individuals who played a role in making this campaign such a success,” said Dan Flowers, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “I continue to be amazed by the generosity and support of this community. We are extremely grateful.”

Because of the success of the campaign the Foodbank will be able to provide more than 3.7 million meals to those struggling with hunger.

More than 300 businesses and organizations held food and funds drives to support Harvest for Hunger. The campaign’s top financial donor was FirstEnergy Corporation, along with Aultman Health Foundation, Akron Children’s Hospital and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Medina County Libraries also had the largest food drive this year collecting more than 13,000 pounds of food.

Locally, six supermarket chains together raised $370,000 through Check Out Hunger, which allowed shoppers to scan coupons and make donations at the check-out register. Participating supermarkets included Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Dave’s Supermarkets, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle, and Heinen’s Fine Foods, along with support from the members of UFCW Local 880.

The 2012 Harvest for Hunger campaign was led by two respected leaders from the healthcare industry, William H. Considine, President & CEO of Akron Children’s Hospital and Edward J. Roth, III, President & CEO of Aultman Health Foundation.