In a move to address the immediate needs of residents hit by recent power outages, Cuyahoga County has announced a $250,000 increase in funding for emergency food assistance. This decision comes in the wake of destructive storm systems that ripped through Northeast Ohio on August 6, causing prolonged power outages that led to the spoilage of perishable food items in homes across the county. Cuyahoga County will collaborate with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to ensure that affected families can replenish their supplies.
As outlined in a recent report, calls for emergency food service surged, with some areas seeing upwards of a 300% increase following a storm. According to David Merriman, the County’s Director of Health and Human Services, as detailed by Cuyahoga County, "We understand that many of our residents with low or no income were severely affected by the storms, losing a significant amount of food, and that efforts to mitigate the loss were further compounded by limited power and cell service." The county's swift financial response aims to expedite the distribution of food aid to impacted households significantly.
The Board of Control approved the additional county levy dollars, which will be funneled into the United Way of Greater Cleveland Emergency Food Purchase contract. These funds are not a standalone measure but part of a purposeful partnership to address food insecurity, magnified by unexpected crises such as the recent power outages.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank's leadership praised the County's rapid allocation of resources. Kristin Warzocha, the president and CEO, noted by Cuyahoga County, "These funds will help struggling families and seniors after the recent storms and power outages and be used to purchase and distribute additional healthy protein and dairy items, along with other nutritious food, to help our neighbors restock their refrigerators and freezers."
