Cooper Farms and Family Foundation Supports Caring & Sharing Food Pantry
In the past year, the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry has received overwhelming support from Cooper Farms and Family Foundation — a $5,000 financial donation and more than 3,700 pounds of meat.
The charitable donation from Cooper Family Foundation completed the pantry’s fundraising efforts to buy and install a walk-in freezer in its 318 North Walnut Street location.
“The pantry receives about 3,500 pounds of frozen food each month from West Ohio Food Bank, Feeding America (from Van Wert Walmart), the Paulding Chief and others like Coopers. We needed efficient frozen storage, and our walk-in now provides that,” said Dan Bulau, pantry board president.
The meat the pantry periodically receives from Cooper Farms is part of the three days of food their clients can receive per visit, which can be up to two times per month.
“We are so grateful for the meat Cooper Farms donates,” said Jodi Schneider, Executive Director at Caring & Sharing. “It often comes miraculously when our meat supply is low, and the variety of turkey products we have received in the past have helped us provide a healthy mix of food, including a good amount of protein to our clients and their families.”
The Caring & Sharing Food Pantry’s purpose is to support Paulding County residents who are experiencing food insecurity. During the first four months of 2025, the pantry served 2,833 people, a 30 percent increase from the same period in 2024. It runs on an operating budget that comes entirely from individual and business financial donations and grants. Food comes from individuals, organizations and growers in the community, as well as food drives, bulk purchases made from a variety of resources, and through a partnership with West Ohio Food Bank.
For more information about the pantry, volunteering opportunities and fundraising activities, follow the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry on Facebook. If you have questions about the event, please call the pantry, at (419) 399-9562 or send an email to info@caresharepantry.org.
