Supporting Hunger Action Month in Northeast Ohio

Our Company has an ongoing commitment to helping end food security in our communities. This past September, this commitment was brought to life by over 230 employees from our Orrville, OH, headquarters who dedicated their time outside of work to focus on volunteering with local organizations in honor of Hunger Action Month.  By the end of the month, over 1,400 hours of volunteer work was done to provide food to those in need in our area. We’ve summarized a few of those efforts below. Thank you to our incredible employee volunteers and partner organizations for your dedication to making an impact!

Smucker volunteers came together to support Feeding Medina County in a high-energy assembly event where they packed 1,500 weekender bags for children across Medina County! The bags, filled with three meals and breakfast items, will ensure that children enrolled in the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program have access to food over the weekend and help students return to school on Monday ready to learn. To support Akron schools, Blessings in a Backpack volunteers unloaded and unboxed food, sorted bags, and packed 410 bags of weekend food for Akron students across four schools. 

Nearly 90 employees from our HR team came together for a powerful day of service at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Volunteers sorted, repacked food, and helped prepare mesh produce bags for our upcoming second annual Operation Citrus, our seasonal initiative that brings fresh fruit to families in need. Their collective efforts for Hunger Action Month helped provide an incredible 8,053 meals to neighbors in need. 

Every Wednesday during Hunger Action Month, our employee George Nukuto, Manager of Industrial Design, volunteered at Akron’s HAPI Fresh Market, a program led by Asian Services in Action (ASIA). His consistent support helped bring fresh, culturally specific produce to the Asian community, serving nearly 1,000 individuals each week. The market provided access to healthy food through SNAP, WIC, and Produce Perks, nourishing both bodies and community spirit. 

Employee volunteers delivered approximately 100 jars of surplus peanut butter and jelly to Feeding Medina County and about 200 pounds of wet/dry cat food and dog treats divided between Kitten Krazy and the Wayne County Humane Society.

Also, during the month of September, Smucker volunteers supported Friendship Meals, an Orrville-based nonprofit that provides up to 200 hot meals to families in need. The event had three shifts covering food prep, cooking, cleaning, packing, and distribution. In addition to the hot meals, volunteers assembled 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as bonus meals, and Smucker Charitable Giving donated Hostess^® desserts to round out the offering.  

To continue these efforts, we have committed to supporting Friendship Meals on every fifth Thursday in 2026. Volunteers will help prepare sloppy joes, pulled pork, side dishes, and desserts for the community. Cooking will take place in the Innovation Center Culinary College Kitchen on the Orrville campus, offering a meaningful opportunity for teams to bond while giving back.  

As part of our ongoing commitment to community support, Wendy Gardner and members of our Security Team led a Meals on Wheels delivery in Orrville. Volunteers helped distribute meals to local residents, reinforcing our values of care and connection.  

Food rescue is a growing movement that helps divert edible food from landfills and redirect it to those who can benefit. By repurposing leftovers, we reduce waste, lower our environmental footprint, and strengthen community connections. This simple act shows how thoughtful planning and quick action can make a lasting impact to feed others while protecting the planet.  

After one of our Orrville Campus Smucker Socials, our Security Team stepped up to lead a meaningful food rescue effort. Rather than letting leftover food go to waste, they delivered it to the Orrville Fire Department, turning surplus into support for our local first responders. This act of generosity not only extended the spirit of the event but also demonstrated a powerful commitment to sustainability. 

A heartfelt thank you to every employee, volunteer, and partner organization who made an impact this month. The work begins here at home, but its reach and inspiration extend far beyond. We're proud to be part of a community filled with remarkable people driving meaningful change together.