As part of its prize package, the 2019 OPW Imagine | What's Next winning team selected one non-profit to receive a charitable contribution. The winning team members - Bryan Clever, Brenton Hershner, Mike Schubert and Alex White - chose Shared Harvest Foodbank to receive its $2,500 OPW donation. The Dover Foundation will then match OPW's gift for a grand total of $5,000 to support the organization.
Founded in 1983, Shared Harvest Foodbank collects, warehouses, transports and distributes contributions of wholesome surplus food and other grocery style products to more than 90 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and similar nonprofits in Butler, Warren, Preble, Darke and Miami counties that provide either hot meals or bags of groceries to people in need. In addition, Shared Harvest administers USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program for four sister foodbanks serving an additional 26 Ohio counties.
"Every $1 contributed to our mission results in 8 meals provided to people in need," said Terry Perdue, Executive Director for Shared Harvest Foodbank. "This gift of $2,500 results in an astounding 20,000 meals. Absolutely remarkable!"
The OPW Imagine | What's Next Competition is an annual event where OPW employees team up to identify a customer challenge and propose a new, breakthrough product or process that solves that challenge. The new ideas can either address needs within OPW's current markets or its adjacent markets.
Below is the winning 2019 OPW Imagine | What's Next team with Shared Harvest Foodbank's Executive Director Terry Perdue.
Left to right: Brenton Hershner, Bryan Clever, Terry Perdue, Mike Schubert and Alex White