Caravan Of Love

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

🍂 Caravan of Love will be distributing food at two locations in Akron tomorrow, Saturday, October 17!

House of Prayer for All People
69 Balch St., Akron
10–11 AM

Corner of Copley Rd. & Nome Ave.
12–1 PM

❤️ If you or someone you know could use some extra help with groceries, please stop by!

Please share so we can reach as many people as possible. 🍁

10/15/2026

Meet Our Board: Mark Finnicum, Board Member

Today, we’re pleased to introduce Mark Finnicum, a member of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

Mark serves as Chief Operations Officer at SARTA - Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA).

Mark brings extensive experience in operations, transportation and organizational leadership to our Board. His knowledge and perspective are especially valuable as Caravan of Love continues to grow, strengthen our operations and expand our reach in the communities we serve.

We are grateful to have Mark as a member of our Board of Directors and appreciate his commitment to our mission.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board!

10/13/2026

Meet Our Board: Allie Nicholson, Board Member

Today, we’re pleased to introduce Allie Nicholson, a member of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

Allie is President of Sisters with a Vision, a local nonprofit organization providing programs and support for individuals who are unhoused. She also works collaboratively with Project RISE, Safe Landing and the Summit County Continuum of Care.

Allie brings valuable nonprofit experience, strong community connections and a shared commitment to serving individuals in need. Her perspective and dedication are important as Caravan of Love continues to strengthen partnerships and expand its impact.

We are grateful to have Allie as a member of our Board of Directors and for her commitment to the communities we serve.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board!

10/08/2026

Meet Our Board: James Grant, Board Member

Today, we’re pleased to introduce James Grant, a member of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

James is employed by W.W. Grainger and has been part of Caravan of Love since its inception. A lifelong friend of our founder, Robert P. Ford Jr., James has remained a dedicated supporter of the organization and its mission.

James also volunteers with our monthly food distributions, giving his time to directly support individuals and families in our community. His longstanding commitment, dependability and willingness to serve have made him an important part of Caravan of Love from the very beginning.

We are grateful to have James as a member of our Board of Directors and for his continued dedication to the communities we serve.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board!

10/05/2026

Meet Our Board: Kimberly Staples, MBA, CCHW, Board Treasurer

Today, we’re pleased to introduce Kimberly Staples, Treasurer of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

Kimberly is a human services leader with more than seven years of leadership experience in community-based programs. She currently serves as Clinical Coordinator with Community Action Akron Summit and brings experience in organizational leadership, budget oversight, community partnerships and program development.

Kimberly holds an MBA in Healthcare Management and is a Certified Community Health Worker. Her experience and commitment to strengthening communities make her a valuable addition to our Board.

We are excited to welcome Kimberly to the Caravan of Love Board of Directors and grateful to have her leadership as our new Treasurer.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board!

10/02/2026

Meet Our Board: Dr. Fannie L. Brown, Board Secretary

Today, we’re pleased to introduce Dr. Fannie L. Brown, Secretary of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

Dr. Brown is the retired Director of Academic Achievement Programs at The University of Akron and has been part of Caravan of Love since nearly the beginning of our journey.

Throughout the years, Dr. Brown has been instrumental in helping shape and strengthen our organization. Her leadership, guidance and dedication to our mission have played an important role in helping Caravan of Love grow into the organization it is today.

We are incredibly grateful for Dr. Brown’s continued commitment to Caravan of Love and the communities we serve.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board!

09/29/2026

Meet Our Board: Jarrod Hampshire, Board Vice President

Today, we’re pleased to introduce Jarrod Hampshire, Vice President of the Caravan of Love Board of Directors.

Jarrod serves as Chief Operating Officer for METRO Regional Transit Authority, where he oversees the Operations and Maintenance departments. His career in public transportation began at The Ohio State University as a Bus Operator and later took him to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority before joining METRO in 2015.

Jarrod holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree from The University of Akron. In 2014, he was recognized by Mass Transit Magazine as one of its “Top 40 Transit Professionals Under 40 Years Old.”

Jarrod brings valuable leadership, operational expertise and a strong commitment to community to Caravan of Love. We are grateful to have him serving as Vice President and helping guide our organization as we continue to grow our reach and impact.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board of Directors!

09/25/2026

Meet Our Board: Steve Vandegrift, Board President

We’re excited to kick off our Meet Our Board series by introducing Steve Vandegrift, the new Board President of Caravan of Love.

Steve is Co-Founder and President of FranSource, a division of Innis Maggiore. Since 1997, FranSource has helped businesses across the United States expand through franchising.

Steve brings extensive business and leadership experience to Caravan of Love as we continue to grow our organization, strengthen community partnerships and expand our impact.

We are grateful to have Steve leading our Board of Directors and look forward to sharing more about the dedicated people helping move the mission of Caravan of Love forward.

Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Board of Directors!