Just ask some of the people who were willing to talk to AkronNewsNow.  People like Joe, who says he's out of work.

 

"If people didn't have these kinds of services and help, you know, then where would they get the means to extra food," asked Joe, who was toward the front of the line for free food earlier this year at Open M.

 

Open M is a community center with a mission that only partially includes food distribution.  There are other services, including a free clinic, job readiness training, homework assistance and other programs for children and teens that promote leadership.  There is also a food pantry, where people can come whenever they need something to help make ends meet in the kitchen.  AkronNewsNow visited the Princeton Street facility on a "Mountain of Food" day.  That's when the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank delivers a truckload of food that is given away to people who need it - about 10,000 pounds per month, according to Marketing and Communications Manager Mark Mitchell.  Most of the recipients are people who live nearby, according to Open M Chief Executive Officer Dottie Achmoody. 

 

Some of the others who waited in line for more than an hour before this distribution began in June say they'll probably be back.  One woman has a medical disability that prevents her from working.  Another is retired and on a low, fixed income.  Their stories are all different, yet similar. 

 

 

 

It's raining outside, so Open M employees open the doors early so at least some of the people can stay dry.  As they wait, volunteers are busy preparing several food stations, where today's recipients will stop to pick up several items.  It's different every month and the people who show up told me they don't know what they're getting until they get inside and look around.  Achmoody says 200 - 400 people show up for the Mountain of Food each month.  The entire process takes about three hours - the food is gone by 11:00 a.m.  

Watch the process of transforming the center into a Mountain of Food: 

 

 

Our series on food distribution continues tomorrow:  Learn what's happened in the last few months and how the holidays impact the regional foodbank and Open M.