Media Coverage

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) and Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) this week introduced legislation that would require the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to provide a supplemental benefit allotment to qualifying senior citizen households participating in the federal SNAP program.

Advocacy groups have been working to make sure Ohio families in need get the benefits they need, including extra benefits that were added to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards during the height of efforts to bring financial aid amid COVID-19’s impact on the states.

“Ohio sought out and was approved to issue P-EBT benefits in summer 2023 for all school-aged children eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals, including children directly certified based on their household’s income, as well as children participating in schools using the Community Eligibility Provision based on area eligibility,” Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, told the OCJ.

The Community Eligibility Provision allows schools with a certain percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals to provide meals to students without collecting applications for those in need. Instead, the districts are reimbursed based on need.

Ohio’s foodbanks joined with the state’s “hunger relief network” to educate the public about P-EBT funds, according to Novotny, as the foodbanks strained under the weight of increasing visitors to their pantries.

As the recent Dayton Daily News article (January 26) highlighted, more than 600,000 people were disenrolled from Ohio Medicaid coverage in 2023 as continuous coverage provisions put in place during the pandemic ended. Should families learn they are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage, there are free resources available to help identify and enroll for new health insurance plans. Get Covered Ohio, led by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and funded through a cooperative agreement from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, connects Ohioans to unbiased information and free assistance exploring health insurance options and enrolling in health coverage. Navigators that work in tandem with the Get Covered Ohio campaign are certified and licensed. Not only are their services free, but they are required to be completely fair and impartial when helping individuals shop for the best health insurance coverage that suits their needs and budget, with some plans as low as $10 a month through the Marketplace, or Healthcare.gov. If you or someone you know needs support with finding a health insurance plan, schedule an appointment today. Appointments are available in-person, by phone at 833-628-4467 or online at GetCoveredOhio.org, and in multiple languages.

- Grace Wagner, Director of Health Initiatives for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks

A brittle food system, and potential government shutdown were key topics at Second Harvest’s legislative service day.

Second Harvest Food Bank hosted local, state and federal legislators and their staff, in part to highlight the impact funding streams have on the organization’s services.

Two Ohio lawmakers hope to help middle and low-income families with children under 18 with the introduction of the Thriving Families Tax Credit.

Ohio lawmakers are considering a proposal that would implement a statewide refundable child tax credit. Regional food banks say the bill would help more families meet basic needs and reduce strain on local food pantries struggling to meet demand amid persistent inflation.

Sarah Kuhns, advocacy and engagement manager with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said eight in 10 Ohioans are relying on food banks because of high prices, and are being forced to choose between groceries and paying for such basic needs as utilities, medication and transportation.

She added tax credits have proved to be effective for helping families reach financial stability.