Second Harvest a first-rate employer

LORAIN — A nonprofit food bank found itself on a list of the state's best employers for this year. Best Companies Group highlighted Second Harvest Food Bank, the area's largest hunger-relief organization, in its 2023 Best Employers in Ohio rankings. Best Companies Group collaborated with Crain's Cleveland Business and Crain's Content Studio-Cleveland in assembling this list. "This is a great honor and something we are really proud of. We are serving 50% more people than pre-pandemic," food bank spokeswoman Emily Faust said. "Knowing our employees feel appreciated and their needs are being met is essential to us." The list consists of 60 companies statewide in a publication by Crain's Cleveland Business. The list requires companies to partake in a survey process that emphasizes the experiences of employees. Based in Lorain, near the Vermilion border, Second Harvest representative took great pride in this accomplishment. "We are honored to be named one of the best employers in Ohio," Julie Chase-Morefield, the nonprofit's president and CEO, said. "Our employees work hard to support our mission and provide food for so many in our community. We want to make sure they feel valued and appreciated every day." Second Harvest serves as a regional hub that provides about 12 million pounds of food a year to locals. Second Harvest works in conjunction with 125 partners and many local organizations, such as OHgo among others in Erie and Huron counties. It also supplies food to more than 10 area school districts Food comes at no cost to the recipients. Second Harvest served about 88,000 unduplicated individuals prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for food assistance remains 36% higher than pre-pandemic levels with nearly 120,000 people receiving help from Second Harvest directly or from one of the company's partner charities.