The FirstEnergy Foundation has awarded $535,000 in grants to 14 food banks and pantries in Ohio as part of its Hunger Action Month initiative, supporting local communities and contributing to the Foundation’s largest hunger-relief investment to date. In total, the initiative is providing $2.5 million to 104 hunger relief organizations across New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. These grants will provide more than 1.5 million meals to families served by Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison.
Food insecurity continues to be a pressing issue in Ohio, affecting over 1.8 million people, or roughly 15% of the population. Rising prices, climate-related disruptions, and supply chain vulnerabilities have exacerbated the challenge, creating an urgent need for nutritious meals in local communities. Torrence Hinton, FirstEnergy’s President of Ohio, emphasized the importance of working with trusted partners to address hunger, highlighting the impact of volunteer efforts and community engagement in supporting those in need.
Key Ohio beneficiaries of the grants include the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, which received $100,000, Greater Cleveland Food Bank with $100,000, Mid-Ohio Foodbank at $75,000, and the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank receiving $75,000. Other organizations, including Second Harvest Food Banks, Feeding Medina County, and Victory Kitchen, also received funding to expand their food assistance programs and reach more individuals and families across the state.
Beyond financial support, FirstEnergy encourages employees to actively engage in their communities through dedicated volunteer time-off hours. In 2024, employees contributed over 26,000 volunteer hours, supporting food banks, pantries, and other essential community services. This hands-on involvement underscores the Foundation’s commitment to addressing food insecurity while fostering community solidarity.
The FirstEnergy Foundation and its employees have been combatting food insecurity for more than 20 years, raising nearly $7 million through the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign and donating significant funds to local hunger-related initiatives. In 2025, combined grants and community support exceeded $4 million across the Foundation’s service areas, reinforcing its ongoing mission to provide critical aid and promote nutrition for communities in need.
FirstEnergy Corp., the parent company, operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., serving over six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York, with transmission infrastructure connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. The Foundation continues to leverage its resources and partnerships to strengthen community support and combat hunger across its service territories.
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