Hope Center receives matching grant to help feed families

The Wooster Hope Center recently received a $35,000 matching grant from an anonymous local donor, and the donations will help meet the rising need for food assistance in Wayne County, its executive director said.

For every dollar donated to the Wooster Hope Center through the end of 2023, the donor will match it. The funds will support the distribution of food to an increasing number of families across Wayne County, Executive Director Richard Frazier said.

The growing need of area families is consistent with the findings of the 2023 Statewide Study of Hunger in Ohio. Here are some key findings from the survey:

—More than 8 in 10 food bank clients sought help with emergency food because of higher food costs.

—40.7% participate in SNAP.

—With pandemic-era SNAP benefits, 30% said their benefits lasted the full month. Since the end, just 5% said their SNAP benefits last the full month.

—Over 3 in 4 said their SNAP benefits run out in the first two weeks each month since pandemic-era benefits ended.

—65.5% of households have adults that cut or skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food in the past year.

—36.6% skip meals almost every month.

—37% said they will rely on food banks more often.

“We are blessed that each year an anonymous member of the community issues a matching donation challenge,” Frazier said. “This year the donor has pledged to match up to $35,000 in donations, which would cover approximately 75% of our annual operating costs if fully matched.

“This matching challenge is critical for our mission because it funds most of our budget each year. We are profoundly grateful for this donor and all our supporters who donate throughout the year, especially during this matching grant challenge. Their contributions help sustain our operations and services.”

The Wooster Hope Center provides food to hundreds of families weekly through its food pantry, open 12-3 p.m. Wednesday, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m.-noon Friday at 807 Spruce St. in Wooster.

The Wooster Hope Center also partners with Wooster Community Kitchen to stock local food boxes around the county and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank for the food it distributes to families at no cost to them.

Financial donations are critical to purchase the nutritious food needed by Wayne County families. To donate, visit www.loveforwaynecounty.org, call 330-683-2242 or mail checks payable to the Wooster Hope Center, P.O. Box 1204, Wooster, OH 44691.