Sharing All Year Round: Helping Your Local Community

io.This holiday season, Liberty HealthShare joined forces with five Canton, Ohio organizations to fight hunger in Stark County, Ohio. Through the ministry’s charitable arm, the Sharing Hearts Fund, Liberty HealthShare provided $5,000 checks to the Stark County Hunger Task Force, the Refuge of Hope, North Canton Cares Pantry, Salvation Army of Canton, and Salvation Army of Massillon.

The $25,000 gift will provide more than 100,000 meals to families in communities across Stark County. This is because food banks are able to partner with major manufacturers, farmers, and retailers in order to secure healthy food instead of paying retail prices. This blog on Feeding America's website goes further into Why Cash Donations Help Food Banks (did you know working directly with farmers helps reduce food waste as well? Solving two community issues at once!).

Food insecurity made national headlines due to the recent federal government shutdown, but these organizations still face several critical challenges including food price inflation; increased demand due to economic hardship; federal funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Local Food Purchase Assistance, and Emergency Food Assistance programs; and decreased donations from individuals and corporations.

“Through our charitable arm, the Sharing Hearts Fund, we want to be a force for good in our community. Helping children who need medical care and providing nourishing food are two ways we can make an impact,” Morrow said. “Our vision is to be a sharing community that exemplifies Jesus Christ who, in Matthew 25:35-40 tells us that feeding the hungry is feeding Him,” Morrow added.

All dollars awarded are generated through donations and grants that are separate and distinct from the operational funding of the Liberty HealthShare ministry. Anyone wishing to support the Sharing Hearts Fund can make tax deductible donations via the donation page on our website. 

Liberty HealthShare has members all over the United States (and internationally!). As Liberty HealthShare is based in Canton, Ohio, the ministry is focusing its efforts to its neighbors located here in Stark County, but communities all over the states and beyond are experiencing food insecurity. According to the Department of Agriculture, 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity at some point during 2023. That's 18 million households. In households with children 18 years or younger, 17.9% of households were affected by food insecurity—a staggering 6.5 million households. Breaking down the "households" language, that's about 47.4 million individuals (adults and kids) who were food insecure in 2023. 

Jesus said, "'For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

"Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" (Matthew 25:35-40 NLT).

Resources to share locally

You can join us in our mission to be a force for good in the world by providing compassion and meals beyond the holiday season in your local community. By clicking on any of the buttons below, you'll be taken to the websites of organizations seeking to combat hunger nationally. A quick internet search for "food banks local to me" will provide you with even more resources—local churches and counties often have their own food banks serving their respective community members.

Thank you for your commitment to share the love of Christ and we pray that those in your own backyard can experience that love as well.