News & Updates

“The Ohio Association of Foodbanks, along with our 12 regional foodbanks and 3,600 member charities, extend our deepest appreciation to Ohio Governor DeWine, Ohio Senate President Huffman, Ohio House Speaker Cupp, Ohio Senate Finance Chairman Dolan, Ohio House Finance Chairman Oelslager, and members of the Ohio General Assembly for their leadership in providing $25 million in today’s year-end spending bill to help us address ongoing food hardship... with this appropriation, the State of Ohio and its elected leaders have told Ohioans that they believe food security is an essential ingredient for a strong and resilient workforce, thriving children and students, and an older generation that can age in place with dignity."

We thank Governor DeWine for being at the table with us to hear from Ohio foodbanks about the tremendous need and why we need bold action like today’s announcement to make sure hungry Ohioans have the healthy wholesome foods, like Ohio-produced beef, pork, cheese, milk, eggs, chicken, turkey, lamb and more, on their plates each day. Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine have firmly demonstrated today that they will not allow Ohio’s kids, older adults, parents and caregivers, and workers to go without the balanced food they need to thrive.

Ohio Association of Foodbanks Joint Statement on USDA Response to Food Shortfalls, Opportunity for Ohio to Match: Ohio’s foodbank network is extremely grateful to the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for their announcement that they will provide nearly $1.5 billion in additional funding for emergency food assistance nationally, roughly $50 million of which will be used to direct food to Ohioans in need beginning in 2023. By matching this $50 million investment by USDA with $50 million in the State of Ohio’s ARPA funds, Governor DeWine and members of the Ohio General Assembly can ensure that the Ohioans hardest hit by the pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainty can count on us for the help they need in the future. Immediate ARPA funds will prevent a bleak holiday season, as well as help our network reinforce its storage and distribution capacity for the months ahead and support Ohio agriculture. We look forward to working with our state and federal partners to continue to keep our communities’ needs met.

The White House Conference on Hunger and Nutrition was Thursday. It brought several anti hunger advocates, farmers, nutritionists, community leaders and policymakers to discuss solutions for hunger and healthy eating in the United States. Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, the executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, was at the conference. She spoke with WYSO’s Alejandro Figueroa about the national plan to end hunger and what it means for Ohioans.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration is using federal stimulus money to grant $15 million worth of Ohio-produced meat, eggs and dairy products to Ohio food banks.

“Food banks have been lightening the bag, lightening the boxes, rationing food," Hamler-Fugitt said. "We're currently providing families, Ohioans, that turn to us with two fewer days of meals because we're trying to stretch what we have on hand. But the situation is very severe.”

With the legislature on a break until after the November election, the food banks turned to Gov. Mike DeWine in June, asking him for $50 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.