The 2007 FirstEnergy Harvest for Hunger campaign was our best harvest ever!  Our employees collected the equivalent of nearly two million meals - surpassing our goal of one million meals. Thanks to the hard work, creativity and generosity of our employees during the month of March, hunger centers across our service area are better able to meet the needs of their communities

With this year's campaign results, the employees at FirstEnergy have raised more than $1.25 million since 2001 to feed the hungry in our communities!

Founded in 1992, Harvest for Hunger is the second largest cooperative food drive in the nation. Its mission is to collect food and funds for local hunger centers. Cash contributions ($1 equals 7 meals) are used to purchase the most needed food items. Each dollar or food item donated remains in the donor's community.

"Our generous, compassionate employees raised $284,000 - a new Company record," said FirstEnergy President and CEO Tony Alexander. With food donations, that's equal to nearly two million meals, or 153 meals per employee. In face, FirstEnergy employees have provided more than 8.8 million meals since 2001 for those in need. That's terrific." 

Activities were sparked by a friendly competition among our business groups and employees across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The top three winners earned an additional $1,000, $500 and $300 for their local food banks or hunger centers from the The FirstEnergy Foundation.

In 2007, the General Office in Akron was the overall winner, raising the equivalent of 377 meals per employee. The Fossil Generation Group, with power plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, came in second, raising the equivalent of 143 meals per employee. FirstEnergy's Energy Delivery group, which includes the company's electric operating companies - Ohio Edison Company (Ohio Edison, OH), The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (The Illuminating Company, OH), The Toledo Edison Company (Toledo Edison, OH), Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power, PA), Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed, PA), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec, PA) and Jersey Central Power and Light Company (JCP&L, NJ) - placed third with 128 meals per employee.

Other FirstEnergy Harvest for Hunger campaign highlights included:

• The BETA Lab (OH) held its own against FirstEnergy's nuclear plants by raising the equivalent of more than 200 meals per employee.
  
• Perry Nuclear Power Plant (OH) employees raised more than $9,500. Nuclear plant employees in Ohio and Pennsylvania raised more than $27,000.
  
• Toledo Edison captured the Energy Delivery competition title by raising the equivalent of 220 meals per employee. Met-Ed and FirstEnergy employees in Pennsylvania raised more than $30,000 - an amount second only to the General Office (OH).
  
• Ashtabula Plant (OH) employees won first place in the Fossil Generation competition by raising over $12,000 - nearly 1,100 per employee. Fossil generation plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania combined to raise more than $34,500.

Here's a look at some activities that took place during the campaign:

New Jersey Harvest for Hunger Events
Ohio Harvest for Hunger Activities
Pennsylvania Harvest for Hunger Events

(07/26/07)