Nordson president and CEO named honorary chair of Harvest for Hunger

The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio has named Nordson Corp. President and CEO Sundaram "Naga" Nagarajan honorary chairperson of its 2023 Harvest for Hunger campaign. Harvest for Hunger is an annual food and funding drive carried out by Second Harvest in cooperation with two other Feeding America food banks in northern Ohio. It is the largest food and funding drive in the country, according to a news release from Second Harvest. "I am proud to serve as the Honorary Chair of the 2023 Harvest for Hunger Campaign and rally businesses and organizations in our community to join this important effort to help our entire community combat hunger and create access to nutritious meals," Nagarajan said in a news release. Nordson is a manufacturing and design company based in Westlake that mainly specializes in dispensers for industrial and consumer use. The founders of Nordson, Eric and Evan Nord, started the County Cupboard in the 1980s. It would eventually become Second Harvest. "Nordson and Second Harvest have a storied history," President and CEO of Second Harvest Julie Chase-Morefield said in a release. Chase-Morefield said Nagarajan was selected not just because of this connection between the two entities, but also because of his commitment to helping the people of Lorain County. "Naga has embraced his role as a leader in the community and has a passion for our mission," she said. "We're thrilled he is serving as the 2023 Honorary Chairperson for one of the most vital campaigns we participate in each year." A Second Harvest news release said that the goal for this year's Harvest for Hunger campaign is to raise the funds to provide 2.5 million meals to those struggling with food insecurity in northern Ohio. Along with Nordson and other Feeding America organizations, Second Harvest will work with Giant Eagle, Heinen's and other local businesses. "We know we have individuals and families with children right here in our community who are hungry," Nagarajan said. "When you are hungry and do not know where your next meal will come from, everything else becomes secondary. Couple that need with inflation hitting a 40-year high, and there has never been a more important time to give." There will be a kick-off event for the campaign at the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio in Lorain on March 2 at 4 p.m. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.