Second Harvest to receive aid from National Guard

LORAIN — Second Harvest Food Bank will receive help from the Ohio National Guard after Gov. Mike DeWine authorized it Wednesday. The National Guard will assist Ohio food banks in getting, sorting and packing food into bags and boxes. They will help distribute the food also. The National Guard will begin with Second Harvest on Monday. On Wednesday, DeWine announced the deployment of the National Guard to help food banks. In a Thursday news conference, DeWine reassured people that the National Guard is only there to help with food. "They will not be involved in carrying weapons; you may see them carrying groceries," DeWine said. Statewide, about 300 National Guard members will be deployed to 12 food bank warehouses. Guard members from the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Columbus, were requested to assist with food distributions in Allen, Butler, Clark, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Hocking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery and Summit counties. "We thank Governor DeWine and welcome these National Guard members as part of our foodbank family and thank them for their dedication and diligence in the weeks ahead," Julie Chase-Morefield, CEO of Second Harvest, said in a news release. "Our staff and volunteers are working diligently to keep up with the tremendous need to feed our neighbors in the community who are vulnerable and are struggling. We are steadfast in our commitment to the community and are so grateful for the addition to our team." Second Harvest has implemented several changes to respond to the need while protecting staff, volunteers and clients by minimizing person-to-person contact. They are using no-touch food distribution with drive-through and delivery models, prepackaged bags and boxes of food and to-go meals. Those looking to donate or volunteer or those seeking help with food can visit the Second Harvest Food Bank website at www.secondharvestfoodbank.org. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com. Follow her on Twitter @MissLainaMae.