Second Harvest Food Bank has decided to change how it distributes food in Clark County. Instead of giving food directly to residents, they will work more with partner agencies to ensure everyone gets what they need.
Andy Irick, the executive director, explained that competing with these agencies wasn’t ideal. “We want the food to be distributed fairly,” he said. In December 2024, partner agencies began distributing even more food than Second Harvest, which prompted the change.
The food bank helps reduce hunger in Champaign, Clark, and Logan counties by collecting and distributing food. In the past, they provided food directly to families and also supported local nonprofits that offer meals and groceries. However, many of these partners have expanded their services, making it possible for Second Harvest to stop direct distributions in Clark County.
With 30 partner agencies in Clark County, including food pantries in churches and soup kitchens, Second Harvest acts as a key distribution point. “We bring food in and share it with them so they can serve their communities more locally,” Irick noted.
In areas like Champaign and Logan counties, where partner agencies are fewer, Second Harvest will increase its direct food distribution. This focus allows them to better serve those communities.
“While we’re stopping mobile distributions in Clark County, we’re looking to expand them in Champaign and Logan counties,” Irick shared. This will help make food access fairer across all three counties.
Across the three counties, there are over 60 partner agencies. Irick highlighted some key partners: Buckeye Gospel Barn in Quincy, Ohio, serves about 400 families a month, while The Warehouse in Urbana and Caring Kitchen in Champaign County also play important roles. In Logan County, St. Vincent de Paul in Bellefontaine is another significant partner.
Second Harvest will continue offering 16 food lockers and will serve neighbors through its order-ahead program on Wednesdays.
Irick emphasized the importance of serving all three counties, stating, “It’s costly to do direct distributions, so we need to be strategic.”
For more details on their services, including their order-ahead program and a calendar of agency operations, visit the Second Harvest Food Bank website. This resource contains information about all the agencies in the area, including their operating hours and contact details.
