DELAWARE — The former co-director of a Delaware County food pantry has been indicted on felony charges, accused of stealing $37,500 from the charity she helped run.
A grand jury indicted Kathryn Whiting, 62, of Delaware, on charges of theft from a person in a protected class, telecommunications fraud, and prohibited acts and practices for charities. The indictment was announced Sept. 30 by the office of Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.
Prosecutors allege Whiting stole the money from the Eastside Mission Food Pantry, where she previously served as co-director, between Jan. 1, 2024, and Sept. 14, 2026. The pantry operates as part of Eastside Mission Church at 32 Joy Ave. on Delaware’s east side.
The case was investigated by Delaware city police, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section. Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa A. Schiffel appointed the Charitable Law Section to prosecute the case.
Food pantries depend on donor trust to keep shelves stocked for families in need, and charity fraud cases carry heightened charges precisely because they target vulnerable people. The theft-from-a-person-in-a-protected-class count reflects that alleged conduct.
Whiting has not entered a plea, and the charges are allegations. A conviction on the felony charges could carry significant prison time, with the specific penalties to be determined if the case goes to trial.
