CLEVELAND, Ohio — Food shortages have been a problem across Ohio as the coronavirus takes an economic toll on families. 

What You Need To Know


  • Cleveland Heights School District has partnered with Farmers to Families an effort give food away to those in need

  • The school district has distributed approximately 250,000 pounds of produce through Farmers to Families, plus the 340K meals through the district breakfast and lunch program.

  • The drives are every Thursday and have been extended to the end of July

Nancy Peppler is directing traffic and reminding everyone to wear a mask as they drive through the parking lot of Cleveland Heights High School. 

"I think the need is definitely there. People appreciate it and people are struggling," Peppler said.

She’s organizing an army of volunteers, like school board member and lifelong Cleveland Heights resident Dan Heintz, who’s helping load boxes of food into cars for those who could use a helping hand. 

"I can say that I wasn’t aware. And that’s not to say that the need wasn’t there. But it was just to say me as an individual, middle class, middle-aged white man, this was not a part of the world that I was aware enough of," Heintz said.  

As volunteers continue to get some very tall stacks of donations, they’re eager to give them away to those in need.

“It’s been very challenging. My whole family has suffered," said Christina Pease, who's driving through the donation line, thankful to get some boxes of food from her neighbors.

"This is just amazing. I cried when I saw that this is going on," Pease said.

The boxes of produce are full of food like fruits, vegetables and potatoes, which were donated through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The program acquires food that would have gone to restaurants or schools and sends it to nonprofits and schools for distribution. 

Peppler is happy Cleveland Heights was chosen as a distribution site.  

"It’s absolutely been rewarding. It’s wonderful to see that we can get food to people and they appreciate it. Everybody’s been very kind," Peppler said.

Peppler has recruited younger Cleveland Heights High School alumni, like Julia O’Donnell, class of 2019. They're stepping up to load boxes and even direct traffic. 

"I really enjoy seeing the people, and when I tell them to have a good day, they seem genuinely happy to hear that from me, and also just when people ask for more boxes they are genuinely grateful that we can give it to them, so it’s really nice to see.”