CSG Associate supports food security with major investment in Northeast Ohio food bank expansion
The J.M. Smucker Company, a Premier Associate of The Council of State Governments, announced a significant philanthropic investment to support food security in Wayne County, Ohio. Smucker will donate its Orrville retail facility to the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank. Alongside this, they partnered with the Wayne County Community Foundation to establish a fund, backed by a $1 million commitment, to support new and expanded services over the next five years. The initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to community well-being and hunger relief.
According to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, 15,000 people experience food insecurity in Wayne County, and 25% of them are children.
In April 2025, foodbank spokeswoman Raven Gayheart said federal and state cuts could leave the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank short 4.5 million pounds of food to distribute across the region this year. The foodbank supports 630 food pantries, meal sites, shelters, and programs for children and older adults across eight counties. It also directly serves individuals through mobile pop-up pantries, home delivery programs, and on-site food pantries at its main Akron campus and its Stark County location.
“We have always believed that success as an organization is thriving along with all those who count on our business, and that begins in our backyard here in Northeast Ohio,” said Mark Smucker, president and CEO of The J.M. Smucker Co. “Our longtime partners at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank continue to do incredible work to help address food insecurity in our community, and we saw a unique opportunity to extend our support through this donation.”
For more information, visit: akroncantonfoodbank.org.
About The J.M. Smucker Company
The J.M. Smucker Co. makes food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands including Folgers®, Café Bustelo®, Jif®, Uncrustables®, Hostess®, Milk-Bone® and Meow Mix®. The Company’s commitment to corporate responsibility is reflected in its work to end food insecurity, build strong communities, cultivate a thriving planet, and nurture happy pets. Learn more at www.jmsmucker.com.