The Akron-Canton Foodbank is receiving high praise from a group that knows what it's like trying to raise funds and food for the hungry.

Their peers.

The local organization is being recognized as the nation's tops by the Feeding America Network Summit.

Among the major reasons: boosting food distribution to nearly 20 million pounds over the past year, and for their fundraising efforts leading to a 100% increase over the past two years.

(News Release) The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was named the 2012 Member of the Year at the annual Feeding America Network Summit in Detroit. The award is the highest recognition achievable by food banks and is given to the year’s most outstanding food bank of the 202 food banks across the nation in the Feeding America network.

Judges selected the Ohio food bank because of its exceptional work over the past year. Among the food bank’s accomplishments:

• Increasing distribution to 19.4 million pounds of food and targeted its outreach in priority counties
• Cultivating new donors and balancing fundraising strategies, resulting in 100% increase in funds raised in the past two years
• Creating a new Feeding Kids Initiative to help the one in four kids suffering from food insecurity
• Developing creative tools to engage and educate the public, like the Hungry Kate video.

“The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank continues to create innovative ways to meet its community’s emergency food needs. They are truly a leader in our Network,” said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. “(President and CEO) Dan Flowers and his remarkable team are well deserving of this great honor. Their effort to help feed the hungry in the Akron-Canton area and their contribution to our mission is truly inspiring.”

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food to the community. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to member agencies in eight Northeast Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

These member agencies operate more than 460 programs like food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food.

"The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is fixed on its mission to Feed People and Fight Hunger. We are committed to seeking the most efficient and effective means to those ends,” said Dan Flowers, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “This honor belongs to this entire community, our member agencies, board of directors, staff members and our struggling neighbors. We will continue striving to serve more people and to serve them better. People in need deserve our very best. Our work has just begun."