Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund, established in response to Joe Burrow’s powerful Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in 2019, has awarded its first grant to the Meigs County Schools Food Pantry, expanding its impact beyond Athens County. The $10,000 grant will support the growth and operations of the food pantry, established in 2021 through a collaboration between the Meigs County Foundation (MCF) and the Meigs Local, Eastern Local, and Southern Local school districts.

The school-based food pantry serves the entire county, providing monthly distributions of nutritious food to school-age children and their families. This grant will help expand the reach of this vital community resource and further address significant needs amongst local families. Laura Sheets, a member of the MCF committee and chair of the Meigs County Schools Food Pantry subcommittee, expressed deep gratitude for the support from Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund, emphasizing that positive momentum is made possible by the generosity of individuals, partners, and local businesses.

Athens County Food Pantry, motivated by the overwhelming response to Joe Burrow’s speech, invested $350,000 to establish the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) in 2020. With the support of the Ohio Legislature, FAO matched this investment dollar for dollar, resulting in a total fund of $700,000. Since then, the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund has grown to over $1.65 million, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of the community to combating hunger.

Karin Bright, president of the Athens County Food Pantry, emphasized the transformative power of Burrow’s words, which sparked a wave of generosity and united a community striving to address the fundamental need for food. The creation of Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund allows the pantry to support fellow nonprofits and work collectively toward eradicating hunger in local communities and beyond.

The establishment of the Meigs County Schools Food Pantry was prompted by the heightened awareness of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. An initiative of the Meigs County Foundation and FAO‘s I’m a Child of Appalachia Fund, the food pantry serves 150 families on a monthly basis. Those interested in supporting can visit Meigs County Schools Food Pantry or contact FAO for more information.

The Meigs County Foundation was established in 2011 with the goal of promoting and advancing philanthropic activities in Meigs County. Through the attraction of philanthropic resources in the form of gifts, grants, or bequests, the foundation aims to benefit the broader community. For more information about the foundation and its initiatives, visit here.