News & Updates

We strive to be a trusted source of information and expertise to elevate the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing food insecure Ohioans.

Press Releases & Media Statements

Aug 11, 2023

Two-Day Tour Highlights Farmer and Foodbank Partnerships

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Congressional Offices Tour Urban and Family Farms and Foodbank, Discuss Farm Bill Priorities

Partners from state and local agencies, Ohio foodbanks, and Ohio farmers highlight early success of Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program in Ohio, value of public-private partnerships, and importance of a Farm Bill rooted in food security

Jul 12, 2023

Ohio Foodbanks Leadership Transition

Ohio Association of Foodbanks executive director Lisa Hamler-Fugitt to retire after more than 20 years of leadership; Joree Novotny, long-tenured chief of staff, appointed as new executive director

Jun 30, 2023

Press Statement: Ohio Budget Invests in Food Security

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is deeply grateful to Chairmen Rep. Jay Edwards and Sen. Matt Dolan and conference committee members for prioritizing hunger relief and food security in Sub. H.B. 33, the state’s two-year operating budget. We look forward to the passage of this biennial budget and to continuing our strong partnership with Governor DeWine and the State of Ohio to provide food and other resources to Ohioans in need.

Media Coverage

Mar 1, 2024

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank's Harvest for Hunger campaign sets 4.2 million meal goal

Families across the region continue to face a very real threat to their financial and food insecurities — inflation.

The rise in grocery prices, combined with pandemic-related benefits ending, is a major factor in why demand for Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank services reached an all-time high in 2023. More than 3 million visits were made to the network, and there was a 31% increase in people visiting food pantries alone.

It was revealed at its 33rd annual Harvest for Hunger campaign kickoff Friday at the John S. Knight Center that the organization distributed 34.9 million pounds of food last year.

That ongoing need is reflected in this year’s campaign goal, which is to provide the equivalent of 4.2 million meals for the communities served within the food bank’s eight-county service area.

Mar 1, 2024

WIC can’t wait: Hope Lane-Gavin and Melissa Wervey Arnold

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While pandemic-era enhancements to anti-poverty programs have largely expired, one temporary program expansion, set to be permanent, is now at risk of its first funding shortfall in generations. Due to ongoing food inflation and higher-than-expected enrollment, immediate additional investment by Congress in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is required to keep the program solvent. Without action, WIC is facing a $1 billion shortfall that will adversely impact our state’s most vulnerable families. The longer Congress delays fully funding WIC, the greater the risk that the program will have to absorb substantial cuts.

Feb 26, 2024

Ohio advocates worry federal funding to support women and infants is in danger

Congressional conflict is spelling uncertainty for 176,513 women, infants and children enrolled in an Ohio program that receives federal funds to help feed pregnant people and children.

Advocates trying their best to feed hungry families are worried about longstanding questions within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program nationwide, with funding hanging on to continuing resolutions and increasing enrollment and costs causing program leaders to dip into future funding to keep the program going.

“Basically Congress was saying ‘don’t make any changes, don’t put people on waitlists, you guys keep spending,” said Hope Lane-Gavin, director of nutrition policy and programs for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

But at some point, the continuing resolutions — those temporary stopgap measures that Congress puts in place to keep the federal government from shutting down until a longterm solution is created — must stop and the government will need to be fully funded.

As to what will happen to the WIC program, Lane-Gavin said if the program isn’t fully funded by March 1, or if another continuing resolution isn’t passed, states may have to institute a waitlist for benefits or reduce the level of benefits for recipients to maintain the number of participants.

Even if the funding comes at current levels, the USDA has said that will amount to a shortfall of $1 billion.

Publications & Reports

Feb 28, 2024

Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) Report

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, or LFPA. The State of Ohio received funds to support LFPA, which has been branded Ohio CAN (Community + Agriculture + Nutrition) in Ohio. The State of Ohio received $13.5 million for round one and for round two, or LFPA Plus, will receive a little over $13 million for a total of $26.5 million over a roughly three-year period. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program was designed by USDA to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. LFPA uses non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide up to $900 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for state, tribal and territorial governments to purchase foods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination to help support local, regional and underserved producers. The cooperative agreements allow the states, tribes and territories to procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, unique to their geographic areas and that meet the needs of the population. In addition to increasing local food consumption, the funds will help build and expand economic opportunity for local and underserved producers. The Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and Ohio Association of Foodbanks engaged Dr. Howard Fleeter and Dr. Jennifer Olejownik to conduct an independent analysis of Ohio CAN’s early outcomes to identify strengths, benefits, challenges, and areas for improvement. This report provides a summary of the key themes and findings they surfaced.

Feb 16, 2024

SNAP Look-Book: Hearing directly from our neighbors across Ohio

In the wake of unprecedented challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks traveled across the state, engaging in insightful interviews with recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These conversations provided a platform for our neighbors to candidly reflect on the effects that the pandemic, inflation, and the current economic landscape are having on their lives here in Ohio. This lookbook emphasizes the experiences of individuals and families one year after the end of SNAP emergency allotments, while being met with the continued increase in food cost.

Nov 7, 2023

Faces on Capitol Square: Lisa Hamler-Fugitt Reflects on Foodbanks Career, Says Ohio Must Address ‘Aging Problem’

Capitol Square is devoid of one of its most visible lobbyists -- for a while, at least.

The decision to step down from her role leading the Ohio Association of Foodbanks (OAF) was “bittersweet,” Lisa Hamler-Fugitt told Hannah News during a wide-ranging interview. (See The Hannah Report, 7/12/23.)

Story originally published in The Hannah Report on November 6, 2023. Copyright 2023 Hannah News Service, Inc.