Cleveland Clinic Pledges $2.5 Million to Feeding Medina County to Strengthen Food Access

On April 30, Cleveland Clinic presented Feeding Medina County with a $2.5 million gift over the next five years. This pledge is part of Cleveland Clinic’s $50 million commitment to local organizations fighting food insecurity.

“We want to show our communities that we care,” says Vickie Johnson, Cleveland Clinic Chief Community Officer. “This investment will help ensure consistent access to healthy food, support children and families year-round, and provide Feeding Medina County with the stability needed to plan ahead and respond to evolving community needs.”

Feeding Medina County is a key partner for Cleveland Clinic Medina and Lodi Hospitals. They provide the hospitals with shelf-stable "Go Bags" for food-insecure patients upon discharge and grocery delivery every other week for over 60 homebound seniors.

“Access to healthy food is an essential part of recovery and long-term wellness,” says Thomas Rogers, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital. “Our partnership with Feeding Medina County allows us to support patients beyond the walls of the hospital and address a critical social driver of health in our community.”

Feeding Medina County was established in 2012 by a passionate group of community leaders who were committed to the idea that no one in Medina County should go hungry. From humble beginnings, they now reach across the entire county, operating five programs to provide food to children, seniors and working families.

Cleveland Clinic’s pledge will support Feeding Medina County’s efforts to:

• Open a choice pantry so families can select foods that best meet their needs.
• Explore options for a larger facility to increase food storage and distribution capacity.
• Develop a community resource center to serve as a local hub for food assistance and supportive services.

“This gift from the Cleveland Clinic will be transformative. Not only will we be able to provide groceries to prepare meals today, this donation will allow us to expand our program offerings, increase the number of organizations we partner with and strengthen our ability to meet future challenges,” says Janet Newcomer, Executive Director, Feeding Medina County. “We are very grateful to the Cleveland Clinic for recognizing the work that we are doing, and for investing in our future. This gift sends a powerful message to the Medina County community that the health of our community is connected to access to healthy, nutritious food.”

Feeding Medina County distributes on average 1,000 weekender bags each week, delivers groceries to seniors in subsidized housing and to those who are homebound. They also serve out-of-county folks who attend food distributions within Medina County.

Cleveland Clinic’s pledge builds on existing efforts to address food insecurity through philanthropy and care‑based programs, including teaching kitchens, pediatric summer and weekend meal initiatives, food vouchers, grocery delivery, free produce from local farms and Nourish food pantries for eligible patients.