OUR MISSION
Stark County Hunger Task Force fights hunger in our community by providing financial, logistic, strategic, and food support to our network of local emergency food pantries and Backpack for Kids program.
OUR VISION
We believe our work does more than just provide free groceries to those in need: we ease anxiety, inspire hope, and promote wellness. By alleviating hunger in Stark County, we are building a stronger community.
OUR VALUES
Compassion: Many individuals will, at some point, experience a crisis in which they cannot provide food for their families. We meet this basic need and treat everyone who visits us with dignity and respect.
Hope: When a neighbor in need comes to us for a hand up, we meet them with a smile, a cart full of groceries, and a small dash of hope that their circumstances will soon improve.
Generosity: It is only through the generosity of our donors that we are able to then show generosity to our friends and neighbors struggling with food insecurity.
Zeal: Our passion and commitment to Stark County drive our mission. Through hard work and raised awareness, we will alleviate hunger in our community.
OUR HISTORY
Established in 1981, Stark County Hunger Task Force has helped serve our neighbors in need of food assistance. Our organization has provided support in various ways to a network of food pantries in Stark County since our inception. In 2009, we moved our offices from Cleveland Ave to the Ken Weber Community Campus at Goodwill and opened our own Community Campus Food Pantry, which serves about 4,000 individuals monthly.
1981 – 3,000 people served monthly
2010 – 15,000 people served monthly
2016 – 29,000 people served monthly
2023 – 34,000 people served monthly
As an unique non-profit organization and registered 501c(3), nearly all of our programming is funded through the generosity of community members. Stark County Hunger Task Force is not a county agency, therefore we do not receive county funding. In recent years, we have experienced a cut in federal funding, therefore we derive 92% of our operating budget from the support of our community. Stark County Hunger Task Force, once a support organization run by a small team of volunteers, now has a staff of six, 12 board members, and various hunger-fighting programs.
OUR STAFF
STEPHANIE SWEANY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stephanie Sweany has been with the organization in various roles since 2017. She is a graduate of Kent State University and is a board member for the National Alumni Association. Stephanie is a graduate of the 34th Class of Leadership Stark County and is a past recipient of Twenty Under 40! and the Kent State University Alumni Advocacy Award. In her spare time, Stephanie works for Explore City Tours as a tour guide, participates in Women’s Impact and The Rotary Club of Plain Township, and operates Canton Kindness Coalition. She lives in Canton with her cats, Spooky Mulder and Chandler Bing.
stephanie@starkhunger.org
330.455.6667 x1090
HEATH FRANKLAND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Heath joined Stark County Hunger Task Force in 2015 as an accountant. Since 2017, he has been responsible for all financial compliance, reporting, budgeting, grant financials, and accounting functions. He is a Malone University graduate (Summa Cum Laude) specializing in the fields of corporate and forensic accounting. He is an active member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Ohio Society of CPAs, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners/Forensic Accountants. Heath has served the past 28 years as a local law enforcement officer and is currently a part-time police sergeant for the Malone University Police Department. He also has a passion for dogs and enjoys spending time with his Great Danes. He and his wife Julia spend their spare time volunteering accounting and fundraising services to local nonprofit dog rescues.
heath@starkhunger.org
330.455.6667
ALLISON BOOGAART
MARKETING & ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
allison@starkhunger.org
330.455.6667 x1112
KATHLEEN TUBBS
OPERATIONS MANAGER
kathleen@starkhunger.org
330.455.6667 x1114
CORY BOOGAART
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Cory, an auditor and accountant, received a Bachelors of Arts in Finance, Accounting, and Business Administration from Malone University in 2017. A Michigan native and former NCAA varsity swimmer, he participates on a variety of sports leagues, plays and collects board games, volunteers for his church’s youth group, and travels with his wife, Allison.
cory@starkhunger.org
330.455.6667
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The SCHTF Board of Directors is an all-volunteer “working board” united to support the mission of alleviating hunger in Stark County and to guide the organization into the future.
From representing the organization at various local events and our own fundraisers to serving as executive officers and members of committees, our board members contribute their time and talents in many different capacities.
What they all have in common, regardless of those differences, is a commitment to making an impact in our community by providing our neighbors with a basic need — food.
BOARD MEMBERS
Lisa Vitale Arnold – President, Attorney/Owner, Vitale Legal
Kathy Lopez-Williams – Vice President, Account Manager, UFCW Local 880
Robert F. Fay, CPA, PFS, CGMA – Treasurer, Owner/CEO, Bob F. Fay, CPA
Brook Harless – Secretary, Plain Township Trustee & Government Affairs Director, Stark Trumbull Area Realtors
Theresa Donato – Executive Administrative Assistant (retired)
Robert Feielin – President, Castlebar Corporation
Drew Felberg – Director of Admissions & Stark State College Akron, Stark State College
Jarvis Hall – Financial Advisor, Fidelity Investment
Ashley Harwell – Co-Owner, Cyrus Framing & Art Gallery
Tyler Kalb – Senior Product Development Technician, The Timken Company
Redda Latona – Community Volunteer & Teacher (retired)
Yvette Zingery – Community Volunteer