Successful “Day of Change” project connects businesses & food pantries to fight hunger

The Stark County Hunger Task Force hosted its first service day, a “Day of Change,” on Friday July 17th. Area businesses graciously volunteered their time to spend the morning completing various much-needed improvement projects at SCHTF food pantries all over Stark County, which provide free groceries to 27,000+ hungry local residents each month.

“On behalf of everyone at Helping Hands, I want to thank the Stark County Hunger Task Force for organizing this amazing day of giving back. A HUGE THANK YOU to the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce for taking on the task of painting our ramp. We are so appreciative of the wonderful improvement you made in our pantry’s appearance! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!” -Becky Larson, Director at Helping Hands Network

The Day of Change was the key service event in the SCHTF’s Hunger at Home Campaign, raising awareness as well as funds to engage the entire county-wide community in our heart & mission — alleviating hunger in Stark County. It was also the first time that the SCHTF has hosted its own service day, which we plan to make an annual occurrence, and the only service day dedicated to the many emergency food pantries in our area.

We had nearly 55 volunteers, who completed some much needed projects in 5 pantries. The event was a great success and all of us here at the SCHTF would like to extend our gratitude for the fantastic volunteers and area businesses who participated in our Day of Change service projects, as well as the staff from our pantries who made the day possible. We thank them for their continued commitment to the fight against local hunger, and for sharing the gift of service with many in our community struggle to feed themselves and their families.

Many, many thanks to:

Aultman College
C. Massouh Printing
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Karcher Group
OMNI Orthopaedics
SOL Harris/Day Architects
Faith Kitchen @ Crystal Park
The Helping Hands Network
North Canton Church of Christ
Community Drop-In Center

: Kudos to the crew from C. Massouh Printing Services of Canal Fulton for joining the Day of Change. They helped stock and rearrange the warehouse section of the Stark County Hunger Task Force pantry in the Community Campus at Goodwill and repackaged individually wrapped crackers for family distribution. Their help is greatly appreciated.

: Massouh Printing volunteers at the Community Campus Pantry, prepping inventory

: Hats off to staff from the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, who drove all the way down to Helping Hands in Waynesburg & give them a new, gorgeously red accessibility ramp!

: Staff from the Canton Chamber of Commerce getting down to business with their paint brushes

: Staff from the Canton Chamber of Commerce getting down to business with their paint brushes

: Staff from The Karcher Group & SOL Harris/Day Architects teamed up to fill 1,000 grocery bags with food at North Canton Church of Christ!

: Hard at work prepping groceries for distribution

: Students and staff from Aultman College pitch-in for our Day of Change by helping to upgrade the storage capability of the walk-in freezer at Community Drop-in Center on Cherry.