More local food pantries to receive healthy food options

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- Fresh and healthy options will be available at more pantries, thanks to a nonprofit that’s donating produce to reduce waste.

Flying HIGH Inc. has been giving to the people in this Valley for a while and they’re giving even more now.

They’ve launched a new program ‘Share Our Surplus’ to provide more opportunities to receive fresh, healthy food.

This initiative is part of Flying High’s ‘Access Healthy Food Mahoning Valley’ which has two divisions. First, they grow to produce in their garden on the north side of Youngstown and are an operator and partner with ACTION running Mobile Markets. This is all to provide food throughout food dessert in the Valley while providing healthy options.

The garden puts fruits and vegetables on the Mobile Markets and it’s producing even more. With the excess produce, they’ll be donating it to various food pantries around the Valley.

“Last year we served over 11,000 people. and it has been a tremendous response and need particularly post covid. you know people eating healthy, their immune system has been more robust and we have been in demand,” said Flying High Inc. executive director Jeff Magada.

Five food pantries will receive the extra produce: Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley, Big Reach Center of Hope, Evergreen Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Mahoning Valley Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Salvation Army’s Youngstown Citadel Food Pantry.

Those pantries range from right next to their garden throughout the Valley and all the way into Lisbon. The garden has been successful and don’t want produce going to waste. Their ‘Grow Urban Farm’ is doing more than just providing food for our community. Magada says it helps those working in the garden too.

“We are helping people reinvent their lives, and acclimate to the work environment while they’re growing produce that is going all throughout the Mahoning Valley either on the mobile market or through the food pantries. it’s a great thing.”

Those pantries range from right next to their garden throughout the Valley and all the way into Lisbon.

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