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First week's food drive donations set record

Food drive has raised about $5,864 since Nov. 15, more than at this time last year.

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 1:31 AM Sunday, November 22, 2009

HAMILTON — Shared Harvest Foodbank officials are extremely optimistic about the JournalNews’ annual food drive after receiving record donations in the fund’s first week.

The food drive has raised about $5,864 for the food bank since Nov. 15, more than the $2,613 it had received at this time last year.

Executive Director Tina Osso said she’s “flabbergasted” by the outpouring of support from the community in this poor economy.

“I’m so thrilled with the response of the community with the needs that are out there. So much of what we hear every day is heartbreaking and to see these angels coming to the rescue is what this season is all about,” Osso said.

Shared Harvest is the primary food supplier for a network of 120 agencies in Butler, Warren, Preble, Darke and Miami counties that are projected to serve 129,000 families this year, up 17 percent from last year when 110,030 were served.

Essential to the food bank’s operation is the JN’s Food Relief drive, which will help feed 6,100 families in Butler County alone.

Osso said every donation counts for the campaign that ends Jan. 3.

Fairfield based Shared Harvest officials said more donations are needed this year.

About 85,000 families have sought help from emergency food pantries this year, up 43 percent from 59,000 families last year.

Many are seeking emergency food assistance for the first time.

Jessie Matheny, 41, of New Miami is among them. The recent Miami University grad and mother of four, last week visited a Hamilton pantry. She said then that her home was in foreclosure, and she couldn’t afford to pay $200 to take a test for her nursing license. But since then, a Hamilton resident who asked not to be identified has reached out to help Matheny after reading about her plight.