Cleveland Clinic awards $100,000 to Feeding Medina County

Feeding Medina County will receive a major boost in its fight against hunger thanks to a $100,000 contribution from Cleveland Clinic, part of a larger $2 million gift supporting hunger relief organizations across Ohio, Florida and Nevada.

Cleveland Clinic announced the funding this week as part of its ongoing work to address social drivers of health, including food insecurity. The gift will support nine Feeding America member food banks, with Feeding Medina County among the recipients.

According to Feeding America, 47 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, and 1 in 5 children lack enough food to grow up healthy. The issue spans income levels, with 70% of those experiencing hunger living above the poverty line. Without reliable access to nutritious meals, children may struggle academically, and adults face higher risks of chronic disease.

“Food insecurity is a challenge that touches every community we serve,” said Vickie Johnson, chief community officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Nutritious food is not a privilege, it’s a necessity. This donation will help ease the pressure families experience and remove barriers to living healthier lives.”

The $100,000 directed to Feeding Medina County will help the organization meet increased demand during a season when food needs often intensify. Overall, the gift builds on a $10.4 million commitment Cleveland Clinic made in 2023 to launch and expand food security programs including a teaching kitchen, summer meals for children, food vouchers and grocery delivery, and Nourish food pantries.

Other organizations receiving funding include the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Second Harvest and the Dover New Philadelphia Food Pantry in Ohio; The Just One Project in Nevada; and United Way Broward, House of Hope and United Against Poverty in Florida.

“We’re proud to stand hand in hand with organizations dedicated to ending hunger,” Johnson said. “Stronger partnerships mean stronger communities, and we know lasting changes happen when we work together. By expanding access to nutritious foods, we’re helping our neighbors nourish their bodies and minds.”

Cleveland Clinic’s broader hunger-relief efforts include establishing community food pantries at Akron General, Marymount and South Pointe hospitals and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center. The health system also partners with Aramark and Morrison Healthcare to provide food vouchers and grocery delivery for pediatric and pregnant patients in Northeast Ohio, supports the expansion of House of Hope’s production farm in Martin County, Florida, and teams up with Children’s Hunger Alliance to supply weekend meals to preschoolers in Cleveland.

Through this $100,000 contribution, Cleveland Clinic is reinforcing its commitment to improving access to nutritious food for Medina County families and strengthening community well-being.