Hunger Across the Network in Portage County
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Hunger Across the Network in Portage County
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About this listen
Inside the organizations that stitch the safety net together—United Way Portage County and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank—where logistics, dignity, and scarcity collide.
You’ll hear from:- Bill Childers, President & CEO, United Way Portage County
- Heather Rainone, United Way Portage County
- Raven Gayhart, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
- Brooke Durow, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
In this episode:
- What “Change Hunger” is and how emergency food dollars flow across a county.
- 211 by the numbers: (calls, searches, 700+ local programs) and why discoverability still fails many families.
- Foodbank 101: the hub-and-spoke model; client choice vs. drive-through boxes; why kids and seniors dominate the lines.
- Post-COVID realities: supply shortfalls, purchased food up 40%, pantry visits up double digits.
- The dignity piece: letting neighbors “shop the shelves” vs. the anonymity and convenience of drive-through.
Resources mentioned:
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
- United Way Portage County
- 211 (call or 211.org) for local services
Credits:
Reporting/hosting by Ben & Patrick Childers. Editing/mix/master by Patrick. Fact-check by Dash Lewis. Story edit by Jenna Marson. Artwork by Miggs Sonny. Original music by L.T. Headtrip.
Mentioned in this episode:
Neighbors In Need: Portage County Emergency Support Drive
Neighbors In Need
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