Julie Chase-Morefield

President & CEO

• Email: jmorefield@secondharvestfoodbank.org
• Phone Number: (440) 960-2265 Ext. 304
• Alternate Phone Number: (440) 444-0694

With over 25 years of experience in food banking, Julie Chase-Morefield has been a transformative leader, setting a strategic vision to address food insecurity while placing the individuals and families facing hunger at the center of the organization's mission. Julie has served as the President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio since 2004.

Under Julie’s leadership, Second Harvest has grown its food distribution sixfold and developed school and mobile pantry programs to reach underserved communities. She spearheaded a successful $5.1M capital campaign to construct a 41,000-square-foot headquarters and launched programs like the Child Hunger Initiative to work with local school districts to address child hunger through mobile and school-based food pantries and Food Forward Lorain with the City of Lorain and Lorain County Public Health to improve food access in the city

Julie led Second Harvest through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the organization provided food assistance to over 236,000 individuals, distributed 14 million pounds of food, and conducted more than 500 drive-thru mobile pantries in one year—a monumental effort that earned recognition from the cities of Lorain and Elyria.

Julie’s leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including Non-profit Executive of the Year (twice) from Medical Mutual’s Pillar Awards, recognition as one of the Smart 50 by Smart Business Magazine, a Notable Leader in Philanthropy from Crain’s Cleveland Business and the Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership from Leadership Lorain County. She also serves as Board Chair for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, is a board member of the Local Emergency Food & Shelter Board and served on the board of the Development Fund of the Western Reserve.

Julie’s commitment extends beyond addressing immediate food needs. Second Harvest has expanded their commitment to our region by looking at how the organization can empower people towards long-term food stability and champion an equitable, sustainable food system for the region.

For Julie, the mission of Second Harvest resonates deeply. She describes “growing hope” as more than a phrase—it’s a belief in creating a community where every individual feels supported and valued. A favorite quote by Henry David Thoreau reflects her philosophy: “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”

Outside of work, Julie is actively involved in community efforts and cherishes time with her family. She lives in Huron with her husband, two school-age children, and a rescue dog. A proud Bowling Green State University graduate, Julie is a lifelong fan of Lake Erie, The Beatles, the Cleveland Guardians and runs on copious amounts of coffee.

Julie’s favorite part of her role at Second Harvest is the ability to make a tangible, lasting impact on the region she calls home, helping to grow hope for a brighter future for all.

Linked In- https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliechasemorefield/