News & Updates

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks today released a new study finding that more than half of surveyed Ohio households were forced to choose between paying for medicine or food in the past year, while nearly six in 10 were forced to choose between paying for food or utilities amid ongoing health and financial challenges. The findings are based on an anonymous electronic survey of Ohio food pantry visitors, with more than 2,600 verified responses analyzed.

“As Hunger Action Month kicks off, this study reminds us that food insecurity is often a symptom of broader challenges facing families,” said Joree Novotny, executive director for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “Ohio families are visiting food pantries as they work hard to keep up with rising food costs, inflation and other external pressures. These survey findings underscore the growing pressures fueling hunger across Ohio.”

“The Ohio Association of Foodbanks applauds Governor Mike DeWine for signing Ohio Senate Bill 315 into law. This legislation will enable important fraud protections that will save taxpayer dollars and protect low-income Ohioans. Through gradual implementation of SNAP EBT card modernization, Ohio will adopt a proven technology solution to prevent organized criminals from continuing to defraud Ohio families to the tune of millions of dollars. On behalf of Ohio’s foodbanks and the 650,000 Ohio households that turn to SNAP for help meeting their monthly food needs, we thank Governor DeWine and the 136th Ohio General Assembly for this important legislation.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks applauds the Ohio General Assembly for passing important fraud protections that will save taxpayer dollars and protect low-income Ohioans. We want to especially thank Senators Tim Schaffer and Hearcel Craig for their sponsorship of Sub. Senate Bill 315 and Representatives Kellie Deeter and Tristan Rader for their sponsorship of Am. House Bill 163. These bipartisan, bicameral leaders worked with a sense of urgency, alongside Senate President McColley, Speaker Huffman, Senate Finance leadership including Chair Cirino, Vice Chair Chavez, and Ranking Member Hicks-Hudson, House Agriculture leadership including Chair Klopfenstein, Vice Chair Newman, and Ranking Member Miller, and House Finance leadership including Chair Stewart, Vice Chair Dovilla, and Ranking Member Sweeney, to see this critical effort through to the finish line.

More than half of households surveyed that visited an Ohio food bank were forced to choose between paying for utilities or paying for food, according to a new report.

That 57% statistic was even higher for households with children, which stands at 65%, according to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks annual report which surveyed 2,644 food pantry visitors from April 18 to May 22 this year.

“Ohioans are facing real, real challenges and difficult choices every day, and that those choices are putting them in situations that we know are untenable,” Ohio Association of Foodbanks Executive Director Joree Novotny said.

Utilities were not the only trade-off. 63% reported choosing between paying for transportation or food, and 59% said they were forced to choose between clothes and personal hygiene products or food. Another 48% said they had to choose between affording medicine or food, and 45% had to decide between paying their rent or mortgage or paying for food.

Food pantry visitors in Ohio said they are more financially squeezed than ever and have had to make tough decisions between buying groceries and paying bills for utilities or medicine, new data show.

Rising food costs, inflation, limited household resources and chronic health conditions continue to drive demand at food banks in the Buckeye State and across the country.

Audrey Vanzant, communications director for the Ohio Association of Food Banks, said more than half of people in food pantry lines, even with the assistance of federal programs, are being forced to make difficult decisions.

"This includes 63% who had to decide between affording transportation or affording food, 45% who had to decide between affording rent and affording food, and 48% who had to choose between medicine and affording food," Vanzant outlined.

The food bank, which released the survey, found more than half of households reported at least one member had to skip meals in the past year. Among them, nearly 60% said they skipped meals every month.

More than half of people who visited an Ohio foodbank in the last year had to choose between paying for medicine or buying food. That’s according to a survey of foodbank visitors released by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, which says there are other troubling findings in that report.

The report, done through electronic surveys in April and May, showed:

• 53% of households with a family member living with a chronic condition said they had to choose between buying medicine or food at least once during the year
• 57% of households had to choose between paying for utilities or food in the previous 12 months; that climbed to 65% for families with kids
• 52% reported at least one member of the household was forced to skip meals in the last year; among those, 59% had to skip meals every month
• 40% expected to rely on foodbanks or free meals more often in the next year; that went up to 52% for households with children

A total of 76% of households included a member living with a chronic illness or disability. Half of respondents said at least one member of the householder was employed during the previous 12 months. Among people in the other half of the pool of respondents, 48% said a household member couldn't work because of an illness or disability, 38% were retired and 11% were caregivers.

The Ohio Associaition of Foodbanks is proud to release the 2026 Hunger Study Report. The findings are based on an anonymous electronic survey of Ohio food pantry visitors, with more than 2,600 verified responses analyzed. Rich data from a widely distributed survey comprises the basis for the Hunger in Ohio 2026 results. All data were collected through electronic surveys completed by food pantry visitors from April 18th to May 22nd. Neighbors also had the option to self-select into a secondary, more in-depth interview process. These interviews provided additional context and support for the survey findings and are featured throughout this report in quotations. The neighbors surveyed received a modest incentive for their valued time and feedback. This survey was implemented in partnership with staff and volunteers at each of Ohio’s 12 Feeding Americ a foodbanks, who distributed flyers containing unique QR codes that securely connected food pantry visitors to a confidential online survey developed in Qualtrics.

Ohio Food Recovery’s 2025 Impact Report addresses the issue of food waste, defined as safe, edible food that is discarded instead of eaten. This waste occurs at many points across the food system, including homes, farms, grocery stores, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities. Common causes include produce that does not meet cosmetic standards, food nearing sell‑by or expiration dates, overproduction, and rejected or distressed food loads. Foodbanks play an essential role in addressing this challenge by working with local partners and farms, retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, and distributors to rescue and redistribute surplus food that would otherwise go to waste across all of Ohio's 88 counties. We are pleased to have coordinated with the Ohio Department of Health and local food recovery partners on this report.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is pleased to present this Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Cookbook. This book highlights special recipes from Celebrate Your Plate, utilizing CSFP focused ingredients to make simple and delicious meals, to nourish your household.