food banks
Gardens, pantries and food banks: How Ohio tries to keep pace with hunger
A gallon of gas or a dozen eggs costs less than it did a few months ago, but it remains difficult for many Ohioans to make ends meet. While the newly approved state budget provides some funding for food assistance, the battle against hunger continues. State lawmakers in the Ohio House and Senate hashed out […]
“Send this back and do better.’ Advocates criticize Ohio Senate’s version of state budget
Angry. Frustrated. Disappointed. Disturbed. Those were the words various advocates used to describe the Ohio Senate’s version of the budget, which was released last week. “When I first saw a draft of this, it was so bad I thought it was a mistake,” Michael Corey, executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County […]
Ohio foodbanks yet again asking the federal government not to hurt hungry citizens
Federal and state budget talks hold many funding sources in the balance, but advocates say hungry Ohioans shouldn’t become a pawn in the negotiation game. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks recently urged federal officials to refuse budget cuts or policy changes related to food assistance, especially after pandemic-era Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were […]
Org leaders: Health, food security should be top priority in ARPA spending
With a new load of American Rescue Plan funding headed to the state in the new year, heads of advocacy groups and food assistance groups in the state are hoping the state will be more transparent as they choose spending priorities. “We really know the legislative intent from Congress for these dollars was to make […]
Help is on the way, but hunger still confronts a vast swath of Ohio
When Congress passed a $900 million covid-relief package just before Christmas, it contained good news for legions of desperate Americans. But one of Ohio’s top advocates against hunger said it won’t be nearly enough. Among its provisions is a four-month, 15% increase in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive […]
Ohio foodbanks call for more National Guard assistance
Ohio foodbanks have seen unprecedented demand during the coronavirus pandemic — demand they say they couldn’t have met without the help of the Ohio National Guard. Now, as the pandemic enters its most dangerous phase that help is about to dry up and the foodbanks are calling on the Trump administration to do something. “As […]
Advocates: Ohio’s poor increase as feds dither on coronavirus relief
Many Ohioans were already trapped in poverty before the coronavirus forced hundreds of thousands more out of jobs.
National Guard assistance to foodbanks extended into December
Ohio's volunteer-strapped foodbanks are getting help into December, the Ohio National Guard announced Thursday.
Food bank official urges people to lean on Congress for more assistance
Thursday was national Hunger Action Day and Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of food banks said the facilities continue to see record demand.
Some ideas for Gov. DeWine on how to help struggling Ohioans
In his Aug. 25 news conference Gov. Mike DeWine outlined some good work the state is initiating to expand COVID-19 testing in underserved communities — presumably including neighborhoods of Black and Latinx Ohioans and people with low incomes. He indicated he’s open to ideas about how to help all Ohioans — no matter where they […]
What will our social compact look like in the wake of COVID-19?
In 2019, more than 1.6 million different Ohioans needed help from a charitable food pantry because they couldn’t meet their nutritional needs without it. They were 82-year-old widowers scraping by on Social Security benefits. They were working parents with children who cobbled together a couple of important, but underpaid, jobs in food service or home […]