Cleveland Clinic gives $2 million to food banks, $100,000 to Feeding Medina County

MEDINA — Cleveland Clinic recently announced it would provide $2 million to nine Feeding America member food banks to support hunger relief efforts, with $100,000 going toward Feeding Medina County. Besides Feeding Medina County, four Ohio food banks will also receive the Cleveland Clinic funding. A food bank in Nevada also received funding, as did three food banks in Florida. To celebrate the Cleveland Clinic's decision, several hospital representatives visited Feeding Medina County's warehouse on Tuesday morning. Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Thomas Rogers said they wanted to celebrate the hospital's recognition of the need to help with food insecurity. Rogers said a couple of days before Cleveland Clinic reached out regarding the $2 million donation, the Medina Hospital administration was already discussing how it could help those in the community. "We just thought, well, as a hospital, what can we do?" Rogers said. "So, we put together just a quick food drive." Medina Hospital's staff held a food drive and raised $500 for Feeding Medina County to help purchase turkeys for the upcoming holiday season. Christy Shewbridge of Medina Hospital said that 70 percent of the hospital's caregivers live in Medina County. She said addressing childhood hunger is one of the Cleveland Clinic's community priorities. "It hits close to home," Shewbridge said. "We all know somebody who may be food insecure, and it's good that we're able to contribute and ensure that they get some nutritious food, especially moving into the holiday season." Feeding Medina County Executive Director Janet Newcomer said that the Cleveland Clinic's donation of $100,000 will help meet the recent increased need from the community. Medina Hospital has previously supported Feeding Medina County through volunteering and finding ways to collaborate, Newcomer said, which increases the impact of both organizations. Newcomer said Feeding Medina County's goal is to provide not just food, but groceries that people can make meals with. With Cleveland Clinic's donation, she said it will allow the organization to be intentional in the food it purchases and to provide people with nutritious groceries, rather than just basic grocery staples. "This will be such an impact donation and will touch so many people across the county," Newcomer said. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.