In 1981, a group of Stark County residents founded the Stark County Hunger Task Force. Why? They looked at their community and what they saw made them pause: many of their neighbors did not have reliable access to adequate food for themselves and their families. The need they witnessed inspired them to make an impact in the lives of their struggling neighbors, distributing free groceries at four distribution sites located in their churches and even their own homes. During that first year, they fed 3,000 of the hungry every month at 4 distribution sites. Through the 90’s and early 2000’s, we held steady at roughly 15,000 served every month, with 15-24 pantries.

Today? We serve over 27,000 men, women, and children each month across a 32-member pantry network. We have one part-time and two full-time staff, an office and pantry at the Goodwill Community Campus, and our hundreds of volunteers clocked over 500 hours distributing food in 2015. The past 35 years have all been thanks to generous support from the Stark County community, and we invite you to celebrate this meaningful anniversary with us — we wouldn’t be here without supporters like you, after all!

Current Anniversary Events and Promotions

• January: .35 cents a day: Consider a pledge of 35 cents a day — that’s $11 a month, or $128 for the year — in dedication to our 35th anniversary.
• February/March: Snow Raffle: Stay tuned for more information!