Agency plans to distribute more than 7 tons of food in two hours
— On Friday, Aug. 18 , OPEN M will open its doors to its neighboring community in Akron for the monthly “Mountain of Food” program.
In partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, OPEN M anticipates distributing 7 to 9 tons of food to over 300 Summit County residents in just two hours. While the doors open at 9 a.m., Summit County residents traditionally begin lining up as early as 6 a.m. to ensure they are in line to load their grocery carts.
Volunteers and staff begin arriving nearly as early to begin assembling the various grocery stations throughout OPEN M’s multi-purpose room. While the specific food distributed varies based on availability, items may range from fresh fruits and vegetables to nonperishable canned items, to flowers for their homes and gardens.
This event provides mainly perishable foods, including bread, pastries, fresh vegetables and fruit. Individuals and families living in Summit County are eligible. No referral or appointment is necessary, but clients must bring proof of Summit County residency, a photo ID and meet income guidelines.
In 2016, OPEN M’s Mountain of Food program served 2,576 people with over 220,070 pounds or over 110 tons of food. OPEN M is located at 941 Princeton St.
Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry (OPEN M) serves more than 9,000 individuals annually with education, food, employment, social and health services– all intended to break the cycle of poverty and improve the health of our community, one family at a time. Located in Akron, Ohio, in one of the community’s most disadvantaged areas, OPEN M leverages a community alliance of churches, businesses and more than 1,200 volunteers to offer programs to those in need. For info, visit www.OPENM.org.
