Hunger Across the Network in Portage County

Inside the organizations that stitch the safety net together—United Way Portage County and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank—where logistics, dignity, and scarcity collide.

You’ll hear from:

• Bill Childers, President & CEO, United Way Portage County
• Heather Rainone, United Way Portage County
• Raven Gayhart, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
• Brooke Durow, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

In this episode:

• What “Change Hunger” is and how emergency food dollars flow across a county.
• 211 by the numbers: (calls, searches, 700+ local programs) and why discoverability still fails many families.
• Foodbank 101: the hub-and-spoke model; client choice vs. drive-through boxes; why kids and seniors dominate the lines.
• Post-COVID realities: supply shortfalls, purchased food up 40%, pantry visits up double digits.
• The dignity piece: letting neighbors “shop the shelves” vs. the anonymity and convenience of drive-through.

Resources mentioned:

• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
• United Way Portage County
• 211 (call or 211.org) for local services

Credits:

Reporting/hosting by Ben & Patrick Childers. Editing/mix/master by Patrick. Fact-check by Dash Lewis. Story edit by Jenna Marson. Artwork by Miggs Sonny. Original music by L.T. Headtrip.

Mentioned in this episode:

Neighbors In Need: Portage County Emergency Support Drive

Neighbors In Need