STARKFRESH
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Mission Statement
Our mission is Reinventing neighborhood grocery stores as a solution to fight hunger and poverty Our vision is Transforming community nutrition and well-being in Stark County by reimagining grocery access – creating vibrant retail stores and offering training and business opportunities that empower people to build brighter futures and break the cycle of poverty. Core values 1. Strengthening our oppressed and forgotten neighbors through action, rather than charity 2. Educating ALL who seek truth about the causes of hunger 3. Collaborating with any agent of meaningful change
About This Cause
StarkFresh is a nonprofit organization based in Stark County, Ohio, with a mission to fight the root causes of hunger and food insecurity through innovative, community-driven solutions. Founded in 1983, StarkFresh originally focused on community development, but in 2013, we shifted our core mission to increasing access to healthy, affordable food and delivering food education that empowers. Our belief is simple but powerful: access to healthy food is a human right—not a privilege—and no one should go hungry because of their income, neighborhood, or transportation limitations. Food insecurity is not just about empty shelves—it’s about broken systems. Stark County is home to thousands of people who struggle daily to access fresh groceries due to structural barriers: underinvestment in neighborhoods, transportation deserts, and a social safety net that doesn’t always reach those who need it most. At StarkFresh, we work to eliminate those barriers and restore dignity through practical, high-impact programs that meet people where they are. We operate two full-service community grocery stores—one in Canton (opened in 2020) and one in Alliance (opened in 2023). These stores are located intentionally in neighborhoods that lack access to affordable groceries, and they are designed not just as retail spaces, but as community resources. Since the launch of these locations, our stores have: Distributed 1,013,789 pounds of food Served 43,853 customers Facilitated $285,838 in SNAP/EBT sales Incentivized $491,723 in produce purchases through our 50% discount for SNAP shoppers These numbers speak not only to demand, but to trust. They reflect people choosing to shop with us repeatedly because of how we meet their needs—with dignity, affordability, and consistency. From 2014–2023, we also operated a Mobile Grocery Market, which delivered food directly into underserved areas across the county. This mobile unit allowed us to reach individuals and families living in deep food deserts—people who were unable to travel, lacked access to transportation, or lived far from traditional retailers. It became a lifeline for many until its retirement in 2023. Across all retail operations, StarkFresh has distributed 1,174,065 pounds of food—and that number continues to grow daily. But we didn’t stop at physical groceries. In response to evolving needs, we launched our Online Grocery Store and Delivery Program, specifically designed to serve those who are homebound, lack mobility, or live in hard-to-reach neighborhoods. This service allows customers to order groceries online, pay using SNAP/EBT, and receive doorstep delivery—with no additional fees or price markups. It removes the logistical and financial burdens that often keep people from being able to feed themselves or their families. We see food not just as sustenance, but as empowerment. That philosophy extends into our broader programming, including: A Food Incubation Center that supports food entrepreneurs and local job creation A Free Seed Library that promotes home gardening and self-sufficiency Nutrition and cooking education that builds lasting food literacy skills Most of these initiatives are housed in our Food Justice Campus in Canton—a central hub of innovation, equity, and community ownership. It’s more than a facility; it’s a home for programs that prioritize sustainability, health, and local leadership. Yet even with these successes, we face one persistent truth: demand far exceeds our capacity. Each year, more people turn to StarkFresh for support than we can currently serve. That’s why we must talk honestly about what sustains this work—and that’s philanthropy. We believe that charity must evolve. Too often, charitable giving is reactive—focused on short-term relief through food drives or one-off donations. These efforts, while helpful in the moment, fail to address the systems that create food insecurity in the first place. StarkFresh challenges this model. We call for a redefinition of charity: not as an act of rescue, but as a long-term investment in justice. When you give to StarkFresh, you’re not putting a bandage on hunger—you’re helping to build a permanent solution. You’re funding infrastructure: neighborhood grocery stores, delivery systems, education centers, and economic development that lifts entire communities. Our organization is lean but effective. We rely on a small staff, a robust network of volunteers, and deep partnerships to keep our programs running efficiently. Every dollar we receive is used with intention, maximizing its impact on the ground. But we cannot do this work alone. We invite donors, volunteers, community leaders, and funders to join us in rethinking how we approach food insecurity and community health. Your support allows us to scale, adapt, and continue reaching the people who need us most. StarkFresh isn’t just about food—it’s about freedom, dignity, and equity. It’s about ensuring that your ZIP code doesn’t determine your ability to thrive. Whether you're supporting us financially, volunteering your time, or advocating for our mission, you're part of something bigger: a movement to rebuild the local food system in a way that serves everyone. Together, we are not just feeding people—we are changing lives and transforming systems. And we are just getting started.