While some politicians claim the economy is growing, local food banks are not necessarily seeing an economic increase. According to some pantry officials, the list of clients continues to grow as the list of donors shrinks.



However, the pantries continue to meet the needs of Summit County residents, not just during the holidays, but year round.



Joyce Hunt is executive director for one of the largest food pantries in the area, The Emergency Assistance Center located at 9199 Olde 8 Road, Suite C, in Northfield Center.



Hunt, who has been with the center for about six years, said donations have been "sluggish" as the year ends.



"It's a little concerning," Hunt said of the donations. "It is hurting, definitely."



Hunt has watched the client list at the center grow over the past few years.



"When I first started we had about 350 clients," Executive Director Joyce Hunt said. "And last month we served 996. It really has just grown in leaps and bounds."



The center, a member of the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank, distributes food, clothing and personal hygiene items to a 11-community area, including Boston Heights, Hudson, the Nordonia Hills communities of Macedonia, Northfield Center, Northfield Village and Sagamore Hills, and Peninsula, Richfield and Richfield Township, and Twinsburg and Twinsburg Township.



However, even with the diminished donations, the center is able to purchase 600 pounds of frozen beef and poultry per week.



"It's really important to give families things other than canned goods," according to Hunt. "When you can offer them ground turkey, ground beef and even steak, that makes their day."



The center has partnered up with several local businesses in the area which donate about 1,000 pounds of fresh produce weekly and breads and pastries, pizza, clothing and personal hygiene items.



"We are one of the few pantries around that can offer clothing and hygiene items," Hunt said.



Clients must schedule an appointment and show a photo identification and proof of residency.



Clients are paired with trained shoppers, given a grocery cart and allowed to pick a number of items based on family size, Hunt said. The pantry is divided into shopping sections according to categories, including clothing and hygiene items.



Shoppers are given about a three- to five-day supply of food each month, Hunt said. And recently the center supplied Christmas gifts for families.



The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.



For additional information call 330-467-7945.



Our Community Hunger Center, 9733 Ravenna Road in Twinsburg, also serves several communities in the area.



"We [serve] pretty much any that touches us," according to operations director Terry Piteo.



Help is based on income, Piteo said. Clients are allowed to shop at the choice pantry once a month.



"We are different here in that we supply a seven-day supply of food a month. Most pantries give a three- to four-day supply," Piteo said.



Like other pantries, the center has teamed up with local community partners which supply produce, milk, meat, breads, bakery items, cheeses and other commodities, she added.



"We serve between 250 and 285 families in a given month," Piteo said. "And those same families who come in once a month for their food shopping can come back once a day, without an appointment, and get bread, bakery, milk and produce."



Piteo described the center as "small but mighty."



The center prepared about 250 Christmas meals and about 200 toys for children, Piteo said.



Many of the clients are single-parent commutes and senior citizens.



"Our numbers here are growing," Piteo said of the client list. "My heart just goes out to all the people here."



Piteo said the pantry relies on local assistance for drives and donors to survive.



"If you serve between 250 and 285 families a month, that's over 1,600 cans of vegetables a month. That's 285 bottles of shampoo. That's a lot of stuff. "



The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 330-963-3663.



Jeff Jackson is manager of the Volunteers of America in Aurora located at 1063 North Aurora Road.



Clients need to make an appointment and present a photo identification and proof of residency, he said.



"We are set up for a three to four day supply of food," Jackson said. "And it is one time per month."



Food appointments are Wednesdays and Fridays.



Currently workers box and bag the food and have it waiting for the clients.



Jackson arrived in May, so he is still getting his feet wet.



"I haven’t been here that long, but I’ve been here long enough to see what a caring and giving community this is," Jackson said.



The pantry works with the local schools for various food drives throughout the year, Jackson said.



The pantry is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information call 330-348-0830.



Reporter Tim Troglen can be reached by calling 330-541-9435 or at ttroglen@recordpub.com.