top of page

Our Services

We work to ensure that no one in our community faces hunger alone. Through strategic partnerships and targeted programs, we support a network of local food pantries, provide nutritious food to children and families, and strengthen food access across Stark County. Our services are designed to meet people where they are—offering immediate relief while building long-term solutions to hunger.

COMMUNITY CAMPUS FOOD PANTRY

Location

Ken Weber Community Campus at Goodwill
408 9th St SW, Canton, OH 44707
Bus Route ID: 6256

BACKPACK FOR KIDS PROGRAM

Backpack for Kids logo

One in every four Stark County children is hungry or food insecure, meaning their families often struggle to put enough food on the table. Hunger, according to NoKidHungry, impacts children in the following ways:

​

  • Impairs their ability to concentrate and perform well in school

  • Increases the likelihood of them becoming sick; they also recover from illness more slowly and are hospitalized more frequently

  • Increases the likelihood of behavioral and emotional problems including aggression and anxiety

  • Increases the likelihood of experiencing headaches, stomachaches, colds, and ear infections

  • Puts them at a higher risk for classroom difficulties including low performance in math and reading, inattentiveness, and repeating a grade​

​

Designed specifically to target childhood hunger, our Backpack for Kids Program supplies crucial weekend meals to 2,300 school-aged children every week. Students at risk of weekend hunger receive a bag of food containing healthy, kid-friendly breakfast and lunch items and snacks to sustain them over the weekend.

 

Our program currently serves 18 local elementary, intermediate, and middle schools in four school districts and various library branches. Please contact your child’s school for enrollment information.

Child snacking

PANTRY SUPPORT NETWORK

Stark County Hunger Task Force is a support organization committed to the alleviation of hunger in our communities. Pantries in our support network receive the following benefits:

​

  • Funds solicited by SCHTF from our community are granted to our network pantries to purchase food from the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (ACFRB). Nearly all of our network pantries receive a specific monthly budget and annual bonus to purchase food. The amount each pantry receives is determined by financial need, total number of funding sources, and number of clients served.

  • We work with a variety of schools, businesses, and civic organizations to organize food drives. This food is available to our network pantries on a first come, first served basis. Every effort is made to ensure all of our network pantries get a fair share of this food.

  • We own two trucks which are available for our pantries to borrow to make the trip to either ACRFB location to pick up food. SCHTF is responsible for the cost of gas and routine maintenance.

  • We work with our pantries to determine special needs such as freezers, refrigerators, dollies, shelving, and other products. When possible, SCHTF will seek funding to meet and prioritize needs.

Pantries interested in joining our network must meet the following guidelines prior to applying:

Be in full operation for at least three (3) months prior to applying

1

2

Hold current 501c(3) non-profit status

3

Be a member of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank in good standing

4

Fill a gap in our current services (i.e. geographic location or operating hours not covered by another pantry)

For more information or to inquire about joining our Pantry Support Network, please call 330.455.6667. When your application is completed, please scan and send to Stephanie Sweany at stephanie@starkhunger.org or mail to PO Box 20941, Canton, OH 44701.

(Current Network Members)

bottom of page