Thirty years, 650 partner agencies and more than 1 billion pounds of distributed food later, Matt Habash could probably say he’s done immeasurable good.
But the president of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank is much more likely to talk about his next goal as he enters his fourth decade with the organization.
The Foodbank serves 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio, providing local and regional food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, after-school programs, and senior housing sites with millions of pounds of predominantly homegrown food every year.
It had been in operation for four years when Habash, just 27 years old, left St. Stephen’s Community House in 1984 to run the Foodbank, then known as Operation Feed.
“We have worked hard to create an organization where fresh food distribution is a reality,” Habash says. “The state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility in Grove City allows the Foodbank to collect and distribute fresh foods, including produce, fresh milk, meat and breads. An amazing 55 percent of our distributed inventory is fresh food.”
Among the items on Habash’s plate now is a series of important initiatives, part of a 2012 strategic plan:
-Feed the Line, which aims to help the Foodbank become more efficient in its work and get more food out to hungry residents;
-End the Line, which entails working with the community in search of solutions to build a community where everyone can thrive; and
-Mobilize the Public, intended to stir people to action around policies that support those struggling with hunger as well as those working to create a thriving community.
“Believing that food is health, we want to make sure that all community members have access to fresh, nourishing foods, as they are important to mitigate many of the health issues that disproportionately affect low-income individuals because they can’t afford fresh foods,” Habash says.
Though he’s been a linchpin of the Foodbank in his time there, Habash heaps praise upon staffers and volunteers for their contributions to the agency’s success.
“Nothing can compare to the feeling that I get waking up every day, knowing that the community supports our belief that no one should go hungry – knowing that children, seniors and families are getting the help that they need through the collective efforts of our amazing community, Foodbank board and staff, and agency network and partners,” he says.
Habash is also known around town for his work on Columbus City Council. He served from 1993 to 2007, the last seven of those years as president, before resigning to orchestrate the capital campaign for the new Foodbank facility in Grove City. In addition, he is a nine-year member of the Mount Carmel Foundation Board of Trustees.
Olivia Tharp is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
