Media Coverage

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Association of Foodbanks (the association) recently received a generous donation from Prairie Farms Dairy, a co-op utilizing more than 600 multigenerational, independent family dairy farms, in time for Hunger Action Month, which is recognized during the month of September. Prairie Farms Dairy has committed to providing 52,560 cases of wholesome milk to Ohio families. This donation equates to 1,419,120 servings of milk – helping to ensure that families across the state have access to dairy within their diets.

“At Prairie Farms Dairy, we’re rooted in the values of our local farming communities, and we know how important it is for neighbors to support one another,” said Matt McClelland, CEO/EVP of Prairie Farms Dairy. “That’s why we’re honored to donate over 1.4 million servings of milk to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. This is our way of giving back to the communities that have supported us for generations.”

In the past year, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio has seen a 32 percent increase in food pantry visits. A study by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks is showing this is a trend, not only happening locally, but throughout Ohio.

The findings are from a survey of 2,301 folks who had visited Ohio foodbanks in April and May. The study shows that many residents are finding they must choose between buying food or paying for other essential household expenses such as transportation, medicine and utilities.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A study from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks has found that, among surveyed foodbank clients, an “alarming number” have to choose between food and other essential items.

What You Need To Know

• A study from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks has found an “alarming number” of people have to choose between food and other essential items
• The survey received 2,301 validated responses from those who went to food distributions in various communities from April 15 through May 12 this year
• Around 65% of households reported that adults have skipped meals within the year due to not having enough
• The Ohio Association of Foodbanks also expressed its opinion on a number of state and federal issues related to nutrition

A new study found that Ohio families are still being forced to make hard decisions when it comes to basic expenses and meals.

The Ohio Association of Food Banks conducted a study called “Hunger in Ohio 2024” to “help guide the development of programs, policies and solutions that improve food security for individuals and their households and inform public awareness and policy development for addressing hunger in Ohio.”

“After enduring over a year of above-average inflation and rising costs for food and other essentials, paired with the expiration of pandemic-era Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in March 2023, Ohioans are visiting Ohio’s food bank network at record rates,” the OAF said in a statement announcing the study’s findings.

The OAF represents 12 Feeding America food banks and 3,600 “local hunger relief partners and programs.” For the study, the group surveyed more than 2,300 visitors to the state’s food pantries between April and May of this year.

Those pantries saw a 34% increase in the need for emergency grocery access between 2022 and 2023, or 14.66 million visits in that year, according to the association.

Though there are signs the U.S. economy is strong, millions of Ohioans are still struggling to afford the basics. And in the 17 months since the federal government ended pandemic-related emergency food benefits, demand has been rising at foodbanks and food pantries in Ohio.

Before the pandemic, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks said the state’s 12 regional foodbanks were serving about 2 million Ohioans each quarter.“