2805 Salt Springs Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 526 YOUNGSTOWN, OH In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Call the Food Bank at 330.792.5522, or visit our website at mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org for additional information. Editor In Chief, Megan Magnetta • Editing and Design, McConnell Marketing ©2026 Second Harvest Food Bank Protecting Our Community SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT FRAUD At Second Harvest Food Bank, we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters. Your donations, whether by check, credit card, or online, make it possible for us to provide food to families across the Mahoning Valley. Unfortunately, charitable giving can sometimes attract scammers who try to take advantage of that generosity. We want to help you feel confident and secure every time you give. Strengthen Your Digital Security Protect your accounts by using strong, unique passwords for each login. Avoid reusing the same password across multiple sites. Whenever possible, turn on multi-factor authentication. Keep your phones and computers updated, too. Software updates often fix security vulnerabilities that scammers try to exploit. Be Alert for Scams Fraudsters often pretend to be from trusted organizations like banks, government agencies, utility companies, or even family members in need. If you receive an unexpected call, email, or text asking for money or personal information, pause before responding. Don’t feel pressured to act immediately. Contact the organization directly using a verified phone number. Never share your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information unless you initiated the contact and are confident in who you’re speaking with. Protect Your Mail & Prevent Check Washing Mail theft and “check washing” are on the rise. Check washing happens when criminals steal checks and chemically alter the payee name or dollar amount. To help protect yourself: • Pick up your mail promptly and avoid leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox. • Drop checks inside your local post office rather than using an outdoor mailbox. • Use permanent black gel pens when writing checks, which are harder to alter. • Monitor your bank account regularly and report suspicious activity right away. • Consider online bill pay or electronic payments instead of mailing checks. • Shred sensitive documents like bank statements, medical bills, and credit offers. Shop & Bank Smart When shopping online, look for “https” and the lock icon in your browser, use credit cards instead of debit cards, and avoid accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi. When in Doubt, Reach out If you ever have questions about a donation request or want to confirm a communication is from Second Harvest, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. Your trust means everything to us. We take every step possible to make sure donations are safe and are always updating security. Thank you for your continued support and for taking the steps to ensure your generosity makes the greatest impact possible.
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.