The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which partners with dozens of programs in the Diocese of Cleveland, welcomed Bishop Edward Malesic for his first tour of the facility.
Kristin Warzocha, Food Bank president and CEO since 2000, and Jessica Morgan, chief programs officer and a member of the Food Bank leadership team since 2012, guided the bishop, Jim Mullen, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, and Father Dan Schlegel, pastor of St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village, through the Food Bank’s Partner Distribution Hub on Coit Road and its nearby Community Resource Center on South Waterloo Road, both in Cleveland.
The bishop greeted a group of volunteers from St. Edward High School in Lakewood who were among the volunteers assisting at the Food Bank during his April 4 visit. He chatted with the students and posed for photos before they returned to their duties sorting and packaging nonperishable food items.
(See photo gallery above.)
Warzocha and Morgan showed the bishop, Mullen and Father Schlegel where the food is sorted and packaged, the large warehouse space where shelf-stable items are stored until distributed, the refrigerated and freezer areas where produce and other perishable items are stored, the loading dock where trucks from nonprofit agencies that partner with the Food Bank can load their supplies and the market place where individuals and nonprofits can select food items.
The Food Bank was established in 1979 and distributed 400,000 pounds of food items during its first year. By contrast, it provided more than 54 million pounds of food in fiscal year 2024, serving 424,000 people in six counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Richland.
“Nearly 25% of the people we served last year sought emergency food assistance for the first time,” Warzocha said. She noted that 32% of the population in Northeast Ohio is eligible for food assistance because they are at 200% of poverty or below.
She said the Food Bank has a strong relationship with many parishes in the diocese, assisting with their food pantry operations and hunger centers. It also works closely with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland and many of its agencies, including hot meal programs, food pantries and family centers.
“Many parishes and schools send volunteers to help us,” she said, emphasizing their importance to the Food Bank operations.
Bishop Malesic also bumped into Father Doug Koesel, pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood, who was picking up a food order during his Food Bank visit.
The group stopped to talk with staff members who were preparing boxed lunches for children’s food programs. The food is distributed at local libraries and other partner agencies. They also saw the commercial kitchen where hot meals are prepared and stored until distributed.
After touring the 198,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2022, they traveled to the nearby Community Resource Center that opened in 2023 in the former Food Bank location. Morgan described the Community Resource Center as “a one-stop shopping experience.” The center works to reduce barriers by providing access to healthy food and social service agencies under one roof, she explained.
Community members, or neighbors as Food Bank staff refer to them, can find assistance with food, housing, employment and health care at the center. There also are programs for literacy and financial literacy, education, referral services, legal services and advice, parent support and more housed in the building. Shoes and Clothes for Kids and the Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland are located there, as well.
Warzocha and Morgan discussed the critical need for the services and programs offered by the Food Bank and its Community Resource Center, pointing out that one in seven people are food insecure, meaning they are not certain where their next meal will come from.
“We seek to bridge that gap. We are blessed to have such a strong group of volunteers and such amazing partners from so many parishes and schools throughout the diocese,” Warzocha added.
She said the Food Bank welcomes volunteers and will work with schools or other places seeking opportunities for people to perform community service. Click here for more information.