Food Banks Listed for Summit County, Ohio
We found 4 food banks listed for Summit County, Ohio. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see food pantries in Summit County, Ohio.
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
Phone: (440) 960-2265
Address: 7445 Deer Trail Ln, Lorain, OH 44053. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Together with our network of over 100 hunger-relief agencies and generous donors, Second Harvest is making a difference by bringing the most basic of needs — food — to the table for families in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain Counties. For every $1 donated we are able to provide 5 meals to families at-risk for hunger. Mission Statement: To gather and provide resources to hunger-relief agencies serving individuals and families in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties. Vision Statement: Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio will be the leader in alleviating hunger and the elimination of its root causes in our region. Through a dedicated staff and board, Second Harvest will be committed to our core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of non profit member agencies. With collaboration and on-going education, Second Harvest will support and strengthen those devoted to addressing the issue of hunger while ensuring those at risk have access to nutritious food and are treated with dignity. Second Harvest will be an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to us and serve our region with compassion and integrity.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (440) 960-2265 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Lorain
Help Residents of Counties:
- Lorain
- Cuyahoga
- Erie
- Medina
- Summit
- Huron
- Ashland
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley
Phone: (330) 792-5522
Address: 2805 Salt Springs Rd, Youngstown, OH 44509. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley began in the early 1980s when a group of lay and religious community leaders realized that while people were going hungry, companies were throwing away unused but still nutritious edible food. An effort was started to get these companies to donate food to one central location in order to ease distribution to the many local charities already engaged in the fight against hunger. The Food Assistance Warehouse was incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable organization in December of 1982 and began operating as a clearinghouse for large quantities of food. In 1994, the Food Bank became a certified member of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. As a member of Feeding America, we are the designated recipient of national food donors and retailers, including Target, Bottom Dollar, and Walmart. Additionally, the Food Bank works to procure food donations from local companies like Giant Eagle and Sparkle Markets, as well as through food drives and campaigns like Harvest for Hunger.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (330) 792-5522 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Youngstown
Help Residents of Counties:
- Portage
- Geauga
- Columbiana
- Mahoning
- Stark
- Summit
Cleveland Foodbank, Inc.
Phone: (216) 738-2265
Address: 15500 S Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Throughout Northeast Ohio, one in six people is food insecure – meaning they may not know where their next meal will come from. The Cleveland Foodbank seeks to bridge the meal gap, connecting individuals with the nutritious meals they need to succeed. The Cleveland Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in Northeast Ohio having provided more than 40 million meals in 2013 to hungry people in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Ashland and Richland counties. Our mission is to ensure that everyone in our communities has the nutritious food they need every day. We do this through both food distribution and SNAP outreach efforts. The Foodbank operates a community food distribution center, providing food and other critical grocery products annually to 700 local food pantries, hot meal programs, shelters, mobile pantries, programs for the elderly and othernonprofit agencies. We also prepare nutritious meals in our Cleveland Foodbank Kitchen and take hundreds of calls a day in our help center, where we refer low income callers to local agencies and sign-up eligible Northeast Ohioans for the SNAP program and other benefits.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (216) 738-2265 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Cleveland
Help Residents of Counties:
- Lorain
- Summit
- Geauga
- Lake
- Cuyahoga
- Medina
- Portage
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Phone: (330) 535-6900
Address: 350 Opportunity Pkwy, Akron, OH 44307. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food to our neighbors in need. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to member agencies in eight Northeast Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne. These member agencies operate more than 500 programs like food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (330) 535-6900 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Akron
Help Residents of Counties:
- Stark
- Portage
- Summit
- Geauga
- Lorain
- Cuyahoga
- Wayne
- Medina
- Mahoning
Church Food Banks in Summit County, Ohio
Some churches in and around Summit County, Ohio run food banks or serve free meals.
Many welcome anyone who needs a meal. Some also offer services such as showers, laundry, mail, or I.D. assistance, so call ahead to confirm what is available.
We don't have a church food bank listed for Summit County, Ohio right now. Ask local churches directly, or call 211.
Food prices remain high. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September 2026, up 5.8% from a year earlier.
A 36% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on Ohio Free Clinics, Ohio Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about food banks in Summit County, Ohio and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objective is to help low-income individuals and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
A food bank in Summit County, Ohio serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. It is stored in a large climate-controlled warehouse.
- 3. A food bank in Summit County, Ohio distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches people who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many food banks and food pantries in Summit County, Ohio are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, and some food banks have none. Some let you come during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are some tips before you go:
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Many communities across the United States are served by food banks that use the Second Harvest name.
These food banks help families facing hard choices between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities. Any Second Harvest food banks we have listed for Summit County, Ohio appear in the list above.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
High food costs continue to put pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America reports that its network provides 5.9 billion meals a year.
The Feeding America network has grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
A listing on this page doesn't mean an organization is part of the Feeding America network. To find a member food bank, use Feeding America's finder.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP is also known as Food Stamp.
Nationally, SNAP served approximately 42 million Americans per month in fiscal year 2025. To ask about SNAP benefits in Summit County, Ohio, contact your state SNAP office. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In fiscal year 2025, about 12.3% of the U.S. population received SNAP benefits in an average month.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food bank?
Summit County food banks often have items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for Summit County food bank assistance?
Requirements vary, and some food banks and pantries ask for no paperwork at all. Call ahead. Some may ask you to bring:
- A state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of household members
- A bill or other mail that shows your address
- Proof of income, such as a bank statement