Feeding Medina County hosts food distributions across Medina County to make sure everybody has food. The organization has done this for over ten years and serves a variety of grocery items such as fresh produce, dairy products, bread, frozen meat, and pantry staples. 

Feeding Medina County organizes five programs. There are weekly drive-through distributions, Staples for Seniors, Weekends for Children, Emergency Walk-In Pantry, and Grocery Delivery. Each program meets different priorities in Medina County.

A team of four staff members and many volunteers ensure everybody is respectful and diligent in serving the highest quality of food available. They also work with other community-minded organizations to ensure everything runs as planned. Typical distributions need around 25 people for a smooth run.

“We’re serving about 4,000 people each month through all those programs combined,” said Kelly Smith, the Director of Engagement at Feeding Medina County.

Each week, between 1,000 to 1,100 weekender bags are delivered in every school district of Medina County. 

“Food insecurity is a problem in every part of Medina County, even right here in Wadsworth,” said Janet Newcomer, the executive director at Feeding Medina County. “You can not always tell by looking at someone who may be struggling to get groceries to feed their family.”

Feeding Medina County’s goal is to serve whoever needs food. 

“We have over 300 volunteers to help us with our programs,” Smith said.

Around the holidays, Feeding Medina County has larger distributions consisting of foods like turkeys. 

“To be able to be there for someone in need is very rewarding,” Smith said.

Furthermore, the organization will host its annual gala on March 8, 2025, at 6 PM. The theme is “Back to the 80s”.

Last year’s gala theme was “Send Hunger Out of This Universe”, where Wadsworth alumnus and NASA Astronaut Mike Foreman was their keynote speaker.

There will be multiple events at this year’s gala. This includes a large Plinko game with prizes, silent and live auctions, a candy bar, and a photo booth. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dan Flowers, the CEO and President of the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, who will be discussing the history of the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank and the fight against food insecurity in the future.

“Our main goal for the gala is to raise essential funds for our organization to purchase food,” Newcomer said. 

Tickets for the gala are on sale now.