Members of Simply Living were pleased to be included in a tour of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank held for the central Ohio community on Saturday, February 28. After arriving & enjoying some tasty (and healthy) treats, the group divided into three and the tour began.
The Mid-Ohio Foodbank & the Mid-Ohio Food Collective
The Mid-Ohio Foodbank is a part of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) which, in addition to the Foodbank, consists of more than 600 partners (about half of which are area Food Pantries) serving more than half a million people each year across 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio.
by Lenn Black
The Mid-Ohio Kitchen
Our first stop was the Mid-Ohio Kitchen, which can prepare up to 10,000 meals per week. The kitchen is a bit busy preparing all those meals, according to our tour guide, Sam Grimsley, MOFC’s Annual Giving Manager. MOFC’s Eastland Prosperity Center (4485 Refugee Road), coming soon to central Ohio, will have a larger kitchen to replace or supplement the kitchen at the Foodbank.
Photo by Lenn Black
Food Pickup Area
Next, we saw the Food Pickup Area, where vehicles from area Food Pantries back up to one of five bays to make withdrawals from the Foodbank (i.e., pick up pallets of food to take back to their pantries).
The Warehouse
The Food Pickup Area is adjacent to the Main Warehouse, which is cavernous, with pallets and bins of food stacked up to the ceiling. Food moves in and out of the warehouse quickly, with complete turnover every 18 days.
The Refrigerator/Freezer Rooms
The Foodbank has the largest refrigerator/freezer one is likely to ever encounter, necessary because two thirds of the food MOFC distributes is fresh produce and perishable items. We walked through the refrigerator room (37 degrees F) but only looked into the freezer (-8 degrees F).
Food Delivery Area
The Food Delivery Area, another set of bays where trucks make deposits to the Foodbank (deliver food to the warehouse), is at the opposite end of the building from the Food Pickup Area.
Reclamation
The Reclamation Room is where primarily non-perishable food items come donated from area supermarkets & groceries. Some is nearing its expiration or “best by” date, some items have ripped or dented packaging and are not the perfect products preferred by consumers and retailers. Volunteers check each item to ensure it is safe to consume, and sorters & packers repack the items by food type and place them on pallets for delivery to Food Pantries.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
The last room we saw was where the Commodity Supplemental Food Program boxes are filled. This is a federal government program which, once a month, provides disadvantaged senior citizens with non-perishable staple foods to supplement their cupboards. These “Senior Supplemental” boxes are delivered directly to homes or taken to local Food Pantries for pick up.
by Lenn Black
Support the Food Collective
The Mid-Ohio Food Collective needs 1,000 volunteers per week. Please consider volunteering. Monetary donations are also welcome!
