ORRVILLE, Ohio — Smucker’s has always been “Classic CLE”-worthy in my eyes — and not because you can find Uncrustables in my desk drawer on any given deadline.
I’ll spare you the inner child monologue on the comfort food genius those are, or how Uncrustables are celebrating 25 years on the national retail market. That’s a yarn best spun over a cold one anyway.
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But Smucker’s leveled up again this week with a transformative gift to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
The Orrville-based food giant is donating a 19,000-square-foot building, 30 acres of land and $1 million over five years to support the food bank’s mission — its biggest leap forward yet.
Currently home to the Smucker’s Retail Store, the building will close in January and transition into the food bank’s hands by spring 2026.
From there, the organization will work with hunger relief partners across Wayne County to determine how to best use the space.
The need in this part of Ohio is often underestimated. While rural hunger tends to fly under the radar compared to urban struggles, more than 15,000 people in Wayne County face food insecurity — roughly 10 to 15 percent of the population.
Food bank leaders believe the Orrville site will not only make resources more accessible but also create an environment where residents feel more comfortable in seeking help.
The impact will ripple beyond the food bank’s walls. The Salvation Army Orrville Maiwurm Service Center, which already provides food to about 2,500 people each year, expects better-stocked shelves and a faster flow of supplies.
Leaders there see the new facility as a critical efficiency boost, ensuring food gets into the hands of neighbors more quickly.
For the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, this donation isn’t just a new building — it’s a chance to deepen its presence in Wayne County, expand its reach and bring long-term solutions to a community that often gets overlooked.
With new infrastructure, stronger partnerships, and a commitment to accessibility, the food bank is positioning itself to meet rising demand and support Orrville residents (and beyond) well into the future.
Smucker’s is responsible for more than fruit spreads that made childhood fun. They’re the driving force behind Dunkin’ retail coffee, Jif peanut butter, Hostess brands and those frozen PB&J sandwiches I mentioned.
And that’s not counting their pet care lines, which includes Milk-Bone dog treats.
Point being: They’re a key part of a lot of people’s lives across the country.
To see them deepening their commitment to the region they call home is beyond heartwarming.
We’ll wax rhapsodic about why strawberry Uncrustables beat the grape ones another time.