Taking action against hunger in Ohio and across the globe

One in six Ohioans is food insecure, meaning they have a limited or uncertain ability to provide nutritious meals. For these people and their families, food insecurity is a deeply pressing issue as they face the very real question of where their next meal is coming from.

Bank of America’s exclusive partnership with Feeding America and the Give A Meal program makes hunger in Ohio a priority by raising money to provide meals for families and people in need throughout the state. Every year, the Give A Meal program kicks off in conjunction with Hunger Action Month in September and goes through the end of the year. The bank enjoys being part of this program because of the great participating partners, including nine foodbanks throughout the state.

It is only with support, both financial and in-kind, that Feeding America can mount a strategic response to the lack of access to food during the Give A Meal timeframe each year. Through the program, Bank of America has pledged more than $85,000 in financial support, in Ohio alone, over the past three years – equating to more than 922,000 meals. The bank has also tripled the impact of individual donations through a corporate match through the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

With this combined effort, local foodbanks have been able to expand service in a way that eliminates the barrier of accessibility. We recognize that when needs such as hunger are not met, individuals and families cannot move forward toward longer-term economic success through education, jobs and better money habits – and that’s why Bank of America has formed partnerships with nonprofits around the world leading the fight against hunger.

Through the collaboration of Bank of America and Feeding America, we’ve seen great success throughout many Ohio communities. In Cleveland in 2016, Bank of America raised $20,635 and provided more than 227,000 meals to those in need – significantly more than in years past.

As partners, we continue to collaborate on how to reach Ohioans experiencing hunger and close the gap of those who are food insecure. We need to watch out for the future of our communities and it is our responsibility as business and community leaders to give back to ensure Ohioans success for generations to come. The road to victory begins with the community working to make sure no one goes hungry and all families have access to nutritious meals.

Jeneen Marziani, Ohio Market President, Bank of America