Hunger and the Work Ahead in Portage County

Описание: What now? From a county treasurer’s “Hunger Run” to co-ops and community gardens, from civic focus to shared goals—how ordinary neighbors can move a county toward no child hungry.
You’ll hear from:

• John Kennedy
• Sabrina Christian-Bennett
• Ben Wolford, Publisher of The Portager
• Ben and Patrick Childers, co-founder Odd Conduit Media
In this episode:

• Why focus matters: align orgs and volunteers on a single north star—no child hungry in Portage County—and measure every effort against it.
• What stuck from COVID (drive-through access) and what didn’t (emergency dollars)—and why stigma still shapes the user experience.
• A hard update: Rural Relief’s closure (funding + health) and what that signals about fragility at the last mile.
• Practical on-ramps: join a local board, keep 211 listings accurate, start/expand a garden plot, organize quarterly cross-org huddles.
Resources mentioned:

• Hunger Network (https://hungernetwork.org/)
• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/)
• United Way Portage County (https://www.uwportage.org/)
• 211 (call or 211.org) for local services (https://211.org/)
• Feeding America (https://www.feedingamerica.org/)
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 (https://united-relief.captivate.fm/ne...)