'Great Grocery Giveaway' addresses food insecurity in NEO

Jul 29, 2023

HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio — The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) held the "Great Grocery Giveaway" Friday, Aug. 4 on the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Highland Hills.

Volunteers distributed 500 boxes of food, with each box containing approximately $80 worth of groceries and essential household supplies.

The drive-up program, sponsored by WRAAA and hosted by Tri-C, is part of an initiative to fill food security gaps in the community, specifically among Cuyahoga County residents 60 and older.

According to WRAAA, one in six U.S. seniors faces a daily threat of hunger and malnourishment.

"With the help of our partners at Tri-C, our initiative ensures that their voices are heard," said WRAAA CEO E. Douglas Beach, in a news release. "Many older adults are struggling to find where their next meal is coming from, and our hope is that this effort will not only put food in their pantries but help raise awareness regarding food insecurity in Northeast Ohio."

The next WRAAA "Great Grocery Giveaway" is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Tri-C Metro Campus in Cleveland. Pre-registration is required.

For more information, call 216-586-3747 or send an email to [email protected].