FirstEnergy Foundation Grants Expected to Help Provide 3.6 Million Meals Across Ohio

Largest hunger relief investment in Foundation history includes $1.2 million for Ohio as part of a $5 million regional initiative supporting 140 organizations

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation is making its largest investment in hunger relief to date, awarding $1.2 million to 29 Ohio food banks and pantries during Hunger Action Month. The grants are part of a $5 million initiative supporting 140 hunger relief organizations across six states and the District of Columbia, helping stock local shelves and keep meals on tables in households facing food insecurity.

The funding is expected to provide more than 3.6 million meals for families and neighbors across Ohio, helping food banks and pantries meet growing demand in communities served by Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison.

Funding Organizations on the Front Lines of Hunger Relief

National Hunger Action Month, observed each September, raises awareness of food insecurity and encourages volunteerism, advocacy and charitable giving to help address hunger in local communities. Despite ongoing efforts by food banks and nonprofit organizations, food insecurity remains a significant challenge across the country and in Ohio.

Feeding America estimates that more than 1.8 million Ohioans, or 15.3% of the population, experienced food insecurity in 2024, including approximately 535,000 children. Across the state, food banks and pantries continue to play a critical role in helping families access nutritious meals as they navigate ongoing economic pressures.

Torrence L. Hinton, President, FirstEnergy Ohio: "No one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Across Ohio, food banks and pantries are working every day to meet growing needs, but they can't do it alone. This investment will help provide more than 3.6 million meals for families, seniors and children while strengthening the organizations on the front lines of hunger relief. We're proud to support their work and to stand beside them through volunteer service in the communities we call home."

Michelle M. Brown, CEO & President, Children's Hunger Alliance (CHA): "We are thrilled to grow our collaboration with the FirstEnergy Foundation to help children reach their full potential, providing nutritious meals and food education right where they are, every day of the year. Their investment will do more than expand programs — it will drive meaningful, lasting change in childhood nutrition across Northeast Ohio. Together, we can ensure that children have the nourishment they need not only to succeed in school, but to thrive in life. The FirstEnergy Foundation is helping power the solution. CHA is ready to deliver it."

Supporting 29 Hunger Relief Organizations Across Ohio

Building on last year's initiative, the Foundation expanded its Ohio support to 29 organizations in 2026, including 16 first-time recipients, and increased investments in several of the state's food banks and pantries. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 were awarded to the following organizations:

• *Akron Children's Hospital Foundation Food Farmacy – Serving income-eligible patient families and hospital staff.
• Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank – Serving Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
• *Alliance Community Pantry – Serving residents of Alliance.
• *Cherry Street Mission – Serving Lucas County.
• Children's Hunger Alliance – Serving 1,600 partner sites across 74 counties.
• Country Neighbor Program – Serving Ashtabula and northern Trumbull counties.
• El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. – Serving Greater Lorain County.
• Feeding Medina County – Serving families in Brunswick, Lodi, Medina and Wadsworth.
• *Geauga Hunger Task Force – Serving Geauga County.
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank – Serving Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Richland counties.
• *Helping Hands Helping Others – Serving Marion County.
• *Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland – Serving Greater Cleveland.
• Lakewood Community Services Center – Serving Lakewood, Rocky River and Westlake through its senior meal delivery program.
• *Lakeland Community College (Lakeland Cares Cupboard) – Serving Lake County.
• *LGBT+ Community Center of Greater Cleveland – Serving Greater Cleveland.
• Mid-Ohio Food Collective – Serving Delaware, Fayette, Knox, Madison, Marion, Morrow and Union counties.
• *MLK Kitchen for the Poor – Serving Lucas County.
• *Monroe Street Neighborhood Center Food Pantry – Serving Lucas County.
• *Patricia Ann Cargill Charities – Serving Greater Akron.
• *People Helping People of North Central Ohio – Serving Richland County.
• *Progressive Alliance Community Development Corp – Serving West Akron neighborhoods.
• *Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley – Serving Mahoning County.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio – Serving Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley – Serving Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
• Second Harvest Foodbank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties – Serving Clark, Champaign and Logan counties.
• *The Salvation Army of Northwest Ohio - Sally's Market – Primarily serving Lucas County, with support extending to Wood, Ottawa, Henry and Fulton counties.
• Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank – Serving Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams and Wood counties.
• Victory Kitchen (hot food site) – Serving the Sandusky area.
• *Wauseon FISH Inc. – Serving central Fulton County.

*First-time recipients of a FirstEnergy Foundation Hunger Action Month grant.

Employee Volunteers Help Food Banks Stretch Resources

In addition to financial support, FirstEnergy employees regularly volunteer with food banks, pantries and other nonprofit organizations across Ohio. Through the company's Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program, employees can provide hands-on support that helps organizations serve more families while reducing operating costs.

In 2025, employees contributed approximately 28,500 volunteer hours across FirstEnergy's service territory, including thousands of hours supporting hunger relief organizations. Based on the 2025 national value of a volunteer hour of $36.14, those efforts represent more than $1 million in additional community support.

Media Resources

Photos and video from Hunger Action Month grant presentations, volunteer events and community collaborations will be added throughout September and made available on Flickr.

About FirstEnergy Foundation

The FirstEnergy Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations across FirstEnergy's operational area, helping them build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Giving priorities include housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives that reflect community needs and the company's strategic focus. Combined with the Hunger Action Month grants, the Foundation has distributed nearly $6.5 million in community support across FirstEnergy's operational area to date in 2026.

About FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com. 

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.