Media Coverage

As Ohio families face rising costs, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are raising concerns about access to food, particularly for people who rely on neighborhood convenience stores.

Jayla Jemison, who previously received SNAP benefits, said the assistance helped her feed her family.

“If it wasn't for SNAP benefits, I would not have been able to feed myself or my family,” Jemison said.

New eligibility requirements have contributed to a decline in the number of Ohioans receiving benefits. In August 2025, nearly 1.4 million Ohioans received SNAP benefits. By August 2026, that number had fallen to just over 1.2 million, according to figures cited in the reporting. Nearly 70,000 children also lost coverage during that period.

The changes come as food banks report continued demand for assistance.

Local agricultural producers and a community pantry were recognized for their work fighting hunger across the region during a visit from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

The statewide organization stopped in Washington Court House on Tuesday, Oct. 13, presenting its inaugural Food Champion Awards to Saddleberk Farms, Cockerill Berkshire Farms and the Paint Valley Ministries Pantry. Saddleberk and its agricultural partners have supplied more than 115,000 pounds of pork products to Ohio food banks to date.

The local visit marked the final stop of four regional farm tours conducted by the association to showcase how partnerships between the state’s agriculture sector and charitable food networks deliver fresh, nutritious food to families facing hunger.

Worthington's experience lines up with a wider pattern playing out across Ohio. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks analyzed more than 2,600 verified responses from food pantry visitors across 77 of the state's 88 counties and found that Ohio families are visiting food pantries as they work to keep up with rising food costs, inflation and other external pressures. The association also reported that nearly six in 10 surveyed households had to choose between paying for food or utilities during the past year.

More than 100,000 Ohioans are no longer receiving government help to buy food after federal overhauls to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

According to state data, 137,000 fewer Ohioans were enrolled in SNAP from July 2025, when President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, through July 2026. That includes roughly 60,000 children, and under drastic changes to the program's eligibility requirements, likely veterans, young people aging out of foster care, and certain noncitizen populations.

The loss comes at a time when Americans, regardless of financial status, are struggling to afford basic needs like groceries, rent, utilities and health care. Since 2019, at-home food costs have risen 33%. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of groceries per month for a single person in Franklin and Hamilton counties is more than $350. The average monthly SNAP benefit for an Ohio household is $191.

Ohio families who rely on food pantries are struggling with more than the cost of groceries, according to a new statewide survey that highlights the broader financial pressures facing households.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks surveyed more than 2,600 food pantry visitors across 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The organization found that many families are balancing the cost of food against other necessities, including utilities and transportation.

Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said families often turn to food pantries because their overall household budgets are falling short.

“So they’re coming to us for help with food, not only because they might be facing food budget shortfalls, but because they’re facing overall household budget shortfalls,” Novotny said. “So a lot are making trade offs between affording utilities or food, affording transportation or food, of course.”

Hunters are being asked to consider harvesting an extra deer to help Ohio families through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Field to Food Bank program.

White-tailed deer season is underway, and deer donations are being accepted throughout the season.

“The Field to Food Bank program helps manage Ohio’s white-tailed deer populations and address food insecurity in our state at the same time,” ODNR said in a news release.

First launched last October, the program saw 182 deer donated, amounting to 36,400 venison servings.

Field-dressed deer can be dropped off at designated locations for Division of Wildlife staff to then transport to the Ohio Penal Industries’ meat processing facility at Pickaway Correctional Institution for processing and packaging. ODNR works with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to coordinate distribution.