Press Releases & Media Statements

"The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is grateful for President Biden’s leadership announcing the American Families Plan that lays out a vision for building a stronger and more equitable economy. Food insecurity and unemployment rates are at an all-time high. While the recently enacted American Rescue Plan is providing much-needed relief to Ohioans – that relief is only temporary. We can’t stop there if we want to build a more equitable economy for Ohioans, many of whom continue to struggle to make ends meet. We urge Ohio’s congressional members to move swiftly to build on the President’s recovery proposals and craft legislation that improves the health and economic security for Ohioans."

"This sound and effective action not only provides desperately needed support for tens of millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table but is also an effective trigger for jump-starting the economy. Biden’s new order will allow states to increase SNAP emergency allotments for those who need it most and expand the Pandemic EBT benefits for students who would have qualified for free or reduced-priced school meals were school in session. The executive order will begin the work of revising the Thrifty Food Plan — the basis for determining SNAP benefits — to better factor in the economic realities that families in need must navigate today when accessing their next meal."

"Yesterday was the longest day of winter. Today, we feel hope that the darkest days of the pandemic and its devastating impact on poverty and food insecurity are behind us. We know the suffering from this once-in-a-generation crisis will not have subsided six months from now, and that more will need to be done. But we are also incredibly grateful that meaningful help is on its way."

We humbly applaud Governor Mike DeWine for seeking a fully funded extension for the National Guard response under Title 32, and we’re extraordinarily moved that Senators Portman and Brown would join with all of Ohio’s 16 House members on a bipartisan, bicameral letter to lift up and expedite that request.

"As public health risks and volatility in local economies and food systems remain widespread, so too does the food security crisis in our state and across the nation. But it’s abundantly clear that the large-scale return of community volunteers to support our emergency hunger relief response remains unlikely while pandemic conditions persist. The remarkable Ohio National Guard soldiers and airmen serving at our warehouses and in our communities remain indispensable to keeping our fellow Ohioans fed."