News & Updates

“The passage of the budget reconciliation bill will weaken access to wholesome food and reliable health care for many Ohio families. It includes fundamental, structural and sweeping changes to the nation’s primary food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These changes will be implemented at different intervals over the next three fiscal years and create ongoing uncertainty for communities facing food budget shortfalls and economic instability.

“Our network of 12 regional foodbanks and their 3,600 faith-based and charitable partners remain committed to doing as much as we can to stand side-by-side with children, parents, workers, seniors, and disabled Ohioans striving to keep healthy food on the table. We continue to be motivated to stretch resources in partnership with farmers, manufacturers, retailers, local, state, and federal government agencies and policymakers, and countless donors and volunteers.

“The promise of adequate, nourishing food helps families to think beyond meeting today’s basic needs and focus on pursuing brighter futures. Our resolve to ensure that promise is met across Ohio remains strong, and we will continue to call on our communities to link arms with us so that we can ensure no one in our great state goes hungry.”

The U.S. Senate has passed a version of the reconciliation bill that includes a 20% cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), totaling more than $180 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Food insecurity advocates said they are extremely concerned. The proposed cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would affect more than 40 million people nationwide.

In Ohio, experts project the change would create a gap the state can’t afford.

“Ohio would be responsible for nearly $400 million each year in new spending just to maintain what are already inadequate benefits for primarily children, seniors, disabled Ohioans and working families,” said Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

“Everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food and affordable health care, yet hunger and hardship persist in every corner of Ohio and every congressional district in America. The reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. Senate today would significantly reduce federal investments in SNAP and Medicaid, transferring more financial responsibility to state governments at a time when state budgets are already strained and undermining help with affording food and health care when both are already too expensive for families.

“For the first time, this legislation would require states to pay for a significant share of the cost of SNAP benefits. Based on error rates released yesterday by USDA, the State of Ohio would be responsible for nearly $400 million in new SNAP costs annually under this proposal. With state budgets already stretched thin, this would force local policymakers to make painful decisions and leave more families without the support that helps communities thrive. It would put SNAP benefits at risk for every vulnerable, eligible person.

“This bill forces Ohio to either identify hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue, eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars in other critical public services, or risk reduction or elimination of SNAP benefits for every vulnerable Ohioan. In Ohio, there are nearly 10,000 SNAP retailers – all of whom will be impacted by SNAP cuts in this bill, especially those in rural communities. It would also jeopardize funding that helps keep hospitals, particularly in rural areas, financially stable and accessible for families who rely on them. These programs work together to promote health, reduce emergency room visits, support child wellness, and sustain communities, saving taxpayer dollars in the long run.

“Ohio’s foodbanks are proud of our important role in preventing hunger, promoting access to healthy food, reducing food waste, leading food as medicine work, and supporting families and seniors when they face budget shortfalls. Through partnership with individual donors, corporations, food manufacturers, farmers, grocers and retailers, and local, state, and federal governments, and thanks to the generous efforts of thousands of steadfast volunteers, social service organizations, and faith-based charities, we continue to work harder every day to prevent hunger for Ohioans in need.

“But though we do a whole lot with a little every day, we are not equipped to fill the gaps that these fundamental, structural changes and cuts would create for children, seniors, veterans, disabled Ohioans, and working families. We urge the U.S. House of Representatives to reject this bill because of the strain it will create on state budgets and the harm it will cause for Ohio families already struggling to meet their basic needs.”

Food banks are open as usual during this federal government shutdown, as concerns are rising for what might happen with benefits if the situation drags on.

"We've very rarely seen long-term shutdowns that have led to actual impacts on public benefit access," said Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks.

Novotny said that means for October, those receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Women, Infants and Children food program should have no concerns.

But if the shutdown goes beyond this month, "then there will be different scenarios to take into consideration" when it comes to SNAP or WIC.

From federal workers facing layoffs to delays in vital services, millions of Americans could be affected.

The uncertainty is making many worry, especially federal employees. One of the industries that could be affected by a shutdown is food banks.

Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks, said it would depend how long the shutdown would last. She said if it lasts for a few days or weeks, we may not see any major disruptions in access to public benefits or services.

“But after a little bit of time, if the shutdown does continue, that’s when we would see a real impact first on federal employees and contractors and other folks that are directly paid by the federal government also some potential impacts on staffing that supports access to other programs, but for the immediate, we’re not hugely concerned on access to hunger relief or access to food because of the shutdown,” said Novotny.

Novotny said the last government shutdown was in 2018. She believes it lasted about 35 days. She said they had some issues with people using public benefits like SNAP which caused a lot of uncertainty.

Novotny also said that their main concern is the uncertainty. She said people already have a hard time meeting their basic needs and stretching their incomes far enough to pay their bills and put food on the table.

She said adding another uncertainty in the mix is tough and can be concerning for those wondering what’s coming. But they’re working closely with their partners at the state agencies to communicate transparently with Ohioans who could be impacted by the delays and interruptions.

Ohio and Michigan food banks are joining forces with Kroger in Two States, One Plate, a community meal-packing event that will yield 25,000 meal kits for families in need.

“Half of the kits will remain in Ohio for distribution, and the other half will go to Michigan for distribution,” a Kroger spokesman said. “All will go to Feeding America food bank partners.”

Kroger’s Ohio and Michigan divisions are working with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, both part of the Feeding America network.

Volunteers are needed for the packing event at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday. People can choose one, two, or all three shifts to pack the meal kits full of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

The shifts are 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m., and 2 to 4 p.m. Sign-ups are available at bit.ly/3KcYYAy.

The purpose of this report is to highlight the main findings from a follow up survey on Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) which has been branded Ohio CAN (Community + Agriculture + Nutrition) in Ohio. The goal of the survey was to understand the perceived impact of the Ohio CAN program on local agricultural businesses. Survey questions were devised with input from Howard Fleeter & Associates, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, and regional foodbanks to collect data on business demographics, business growth, food safety, employment, food chain supply resiliency, wellness, and future business outlook.