Picnic on the farm benefits local food pantries

On Aug. 23 Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery Ltd., located at 5452 state Route 557 in Millersburg, will open its doors to Holmes County residents to raise money for Holmes County food pantries.

Sponsored by Holmes County Farm Bureau, the 2023 Harvest for Hunger has a new look this year. In the past the event featured a locally sourced meal hosted by an area farm family. This year the farm bureau changed the format of the event. Instead of a meal prepared by a professional chef, they decided to make it a family-friendly event at Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery Ltd.

“Holmes County Farm Bureau came to us and asked how they could help us raise awareness,” said Edgar Raber, director of the Love Center.

The evening will kick off at 5 p.m. with a meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, Amish noodles, baked beans and ice cream from 5-7 p.m., followed by a live auction featuring gift baskets and items unique to Holmes County. There also will be a silent auction. The petting zoo also will be open during the event.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the history of Harvest for Hunger and the work that is done by local food pantries during presentations by Dr. Eric Shaver, president of Holmes County Farm Bureau, and Raber.

The cost for the evening is a freewill donation for Holmes County food pantries.

For Raber, partnering with Holmes County Farm Bureau on Harvest for Hunger to benefit the local food pantries makes a difference. The meal will raise funds that will be distributed to the four Holmes County food pantries.

In 2022 the Love Center, one of Holmes County’s four food pantries, distributed 553,570 pounds of food, serving 647 families, according to Raber. In 2023 he predicts the county’s food pantries are on track to exceed last year’s food distribution as the need for food and monetary donations rises.

But at the same time, Raber said many people who donated funds and volunteered in the past have become customers of the food pantries.