$1 = 4 Meals

Hamler-Fugitt says the agencies it represents are already asking for additional support ahead of the summer months. "We know there is increasing demand on emergency food providers, but our foodbanks can't make up for all the losses," she said. "The capacity just doesn't exist."

The newest Map the Meal Gap report shows that nearly half of food insecure households in Ohio have incomes that are too high for them to qualify for SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps or food assistance). For those households, Ohio's foodbank network is the only safety net available. "It's time that our public policies invest in nutritious food and livable wages for all Ohioans," said Hamler-Fugitt. "We can't afford the consequences if we don't act now."

"People are making choices every day between affording food and affording housing, medicine and medical care, transportation to work and other household expenses," said Hamler-Fugitt. "They are sacrificing nutritious food to pay the bills, and we are all paying for it in the long run."