Cleveland Clinic is dialing up its hunger-fighting work in North Central Ohio with a $2.5 million investment in Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, a boost aimed at getting more nutritious groceries to residents across Lorain, Erie, Huron, and Crawford counties. The funding is also intended to grow programs that tie food access directly to patients’ medical care.
The health system formally announced the commitment at Second Harvest’s annual volunteer appreciation event on May 21 at the Emerald Event Center in Avon, where the Cleveland Clinic picked up a Harvester Award after staff logged more than 350 volunteer hours in 2025, according to the Cleveland Clinic Newsroom. Clinic leaders said the dollars are meant to help reach more vulnerable neighbors, expand food access inside health care settings, and, as they put it, “bridge the last mile” so groceries actually make it to people’s homes.
How the Gift Will Be Used
Second Harvest distributed more than 11.1 million pounds of food in 2025, roughly 9.2 million meals, and the new investment is designed to help the food bank grow its capacity to source more nutritious options like produce, whole grains, and items that are lower in sodium and sugar, according to the release. Since opening in April 2024, an on-site pantry at Avon Hospital has reportedly provided 8,651 pounds of food to 645 neighbors. “Many of the neighbors we serve have health conditions that can be drastically improved when they have access to nutritious food,” Second Harvest President and CEO Julie Chase-Morefield said in the announcement, reported by Cleveland Clinic Newsroom.
Why This Matters Locally
Lorain County continues to grapple with high rates of food insecurity, with about 48,300 residents, roughly 15.4% of the county, facing food insecurity in 2023, according to Feeding America data compiled by State Cancer Profiles. Local health leaders say that steady access to nutritious food can help patients manage chronic conditions and may cut down on repeat hospital stays.
The Cleveland Clinic investment builds on existing hospital-based efforts that connect patients with food at discharge, and Second Harvest says the funding will help bring in consistent, year-round produce, including from local growers when possible, while strengthening last-mile delivery for neighbors who lack transportation or other ways to pick up groceries. Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio will oversee the expansion in partnership with Cleveland Clinic hospitals and community charities.
