Fill a Semi Truck to Feed the Hungry

Filling a semi-truck with food donations may be daunting.

But the Stark County Hunger Task Force is sure that can happen — with the help of North Canton Patch readers.

Opening November’s observance of National Hunger Awareness Month early, area United Church of Christ congregations have launched a food drive to fill a semi trailer for the task force.

During the four-week drive, the semi trailer will make a five-stop circuit of Stark County beginning with a Canal Fulton church (which took place Saturday) to collect non-perishable food items.

Here's a list of food drop-off locations throughout the county:

• Oct. 13 – 19: Trinity United Church of Christ, Canal Fulton
• Oct 20 – 26: St. John’s United Church of Christ, 101 Tremont Ave. SE, Massillon
• Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Fisher Foods, 4401 W Tuscarawas St., Canton
• Nov. 3 – Nov 9: Grace United Church of Christ, 2300 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton
• Nov 10: Return to Trinity United Church of Christ

Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The food collected during the event will be distributed through Stark County Hunger Task Force (SCHTF) headquartered at 408 9th St. SW, Suite 1637.

Much needed non-perishable food items include canned meats and tuna, cereals, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, rice and canned beans, fruits and vegetables.

Stark County Hunger Task Force officials report nearly one in six Stark County residents suffers food insecurity, and alarmingly, the county’s child food insecurity rate is 25.2 percent — both higher than the national averages.

Statistics reveal one in four children in Stark County live at or below the poverty level, and 10 percent of seniors are food insecure.

The need continues to grow — SCHTF through a network of more than two-and-a-half dozen pantries provides free groceries for some 25,000 individuals in Stark County each month, officials report.

Founded in 1981, Stark County Hunger Task Force leads the battle against hunger in Stark County. SCHTF feeds some 25,000 individuals and families every month through its pantry network, “Backpacks for Kids” programs, an emergency pantry and mobile pantry services. For more information, call 330.455.6667 or visit SCHTF on-line at www.starkhunger.org.