Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints donates 40,000 pounds of food to local food banks

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Cleveland Ohio congregation stepped up in a big way this holiday season, donating more than 40,000 pounds of food to area food banks in Independence, Brecksville, Broadview Heights and Seven Hills.

In 2023, the church donated 120,000 pounds of food to the Cleveland Food Bank, according to Mike Snyder, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Cleveland Ohio congregation.

Church and community volunteers met on Nov. 19 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ storehouse in Brecksville to unpack the food and load it on trucks for distribution.

Members of the Independence Parks and Recreation Department delivered a portion of the food to the St. Michael Catholic Church food bank while members of the service department delivered a portion to the South Hills Lend-a-Hand food bank in Broadview Heights.

“People don’t think that in cities like Independence, Brecksville, Seven Hills or Broadview Heights that there are people who need assistance,” Snyder said. “Our church is happy to help.”

Snyder said all of the donated food was freshly grown and produced on Church of Jesus Christ of LDS farms throughout the country.The new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Cleveland Ohio Temple is currently under construction on Brecksville Road in Independence and is scheduled to open in 2025.