The Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank is taking extra homegrown fruits and vegetables in Toledo. These gifts help supply fresh food items to local families across the area.
Growers can drop off extra crops rather than letting food go to waste. Staff members ask that all donated items be clean and safe for people to eat.
Items are best delivered in boxes, but other clean containers work too. The facility takes produce Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 24 E. Woodruff Ave.
Barbara Hofstetter is the director of operations and human resources. Hofstetter said the organization focuses on the nutritional value of its offerings.
“We don’t want to make sure that we are just providing food items, but nutritional food items to make more healthy meals, which gives more energy to the body and mind,” Hofstetter said.
Refrigeration space remains limited at the site in Toledo. The facility especially welcomes non-refrigerated produce, including:
- Onions
- Potatoes
- Squash
- Apples
- Peppers
Small quantities help the mission. Hofstetter stated that even a handful of cherry tomatoes makes a difference.
“It is always worth it,” Hofstetter said. “Every donation no matter how big or how small. Imagine if everybody came in here with a small donation. We would have a lot of produce coming into our building.”
The facility has distributed more than 650,000 pounds of fresh produce so far this year. Workers want to increase that total through new drop-offs.
The regional network serves eight counties across Northwest Ohio. The group collaborates with 150 local partner agencies to share food throughout Toledo.
Officials hope backyard growers will bring in their leftover harvest before the growing season ends.
