Ohio food banks ask state for aid

The Ohio Association of Food Banks, desperate for help, continues to sound the alarm about the growing food shortage in Ohio. Food rationing has begun at food banks in southeast Ohio, but the shortage is being felt statewide. In June, the association said many of the state's food banks are now seeing a spike in need comparable to, or even higher than, the early weeks of the pandemic in spring 2020, said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, the association's executive director. More Ohio food banks are expected to begin rationing if help isn't found soon. So far, requests to the state of Ohio for financial help have gone unanswered, and the ability of the food banks to overcome the shortages is being hampered by a number of factors, Fugitt said. "We have experienced every supply chain inflection point, from historically high costs of food and transportation to food supply shortages to the cost of recruiting, training, maintaining, and protecting an essential workforce," she said. "We raised private funds furiously and purchased more food than we ever have before to keep our doors open and food on the shelves every single day of the pandemic. Now we're doing even more because of the high cost to find and purchase food while we're getting less donated and federal commodities." Meanwhile, Ohio families are feeling the pinch of higher costs for rent, utilities, child care, fuel and food. "We are seeing more families with kids — including many that have not sought help throughout the pandemic until now — standing more often in our lines. We are serving older adults and people living with disabilities more frequently as their limited, fixed incomes fail to keep up with the rising cost of their basic expenses," she said. "Working adults are earning the same wages, but paying $5 per gallon or more for fuel to get to work and facing an 11.2% increase in the cost of groceries, so far this year." Regional agency seeks donations, volunteers Just this week, the West Ohio Food Bank announced its hours are changing, but not its distribution levels. Hancock County is one of 11 counties served by the West Ohio Food Bank. The food bank, at 1380 Kibby Street, Lima, is now operating from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The warehouse will be closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as major holidays. The change in hours was more of a logistical decision, said Tommie Harner, CEO of the West Ohio Food Bank. Activity at the food bank was slow on Fridays, and trucking companies delivering food to the warehouse wanted both earlier and later hours. Harner said there are currently no plans to ration food distributions in the food bank's coverage area, despite a steep decline in food donations over the past six to nine months. "There have been over 300 semi loads full of food from USDA that have been canceled within Ohio within the past six months, and West Ohio Food Bank has had between 42-50 of those loads canceled," Harner said. The West Ohio Food Bank is a partner agency of the Ohio Association of Food Banks, along with 11 other Ohio food banks. The association has asked the state for $50 million for the purchase of food to serve the immediate need, and an additional $133 million in long-term investment to prepare facilities and staffing in the event of a recession. Food bank officials say Ohio has the resources to address the need. According to the association, the state still has $1.9 billion remaining in American Rescue Plan Act funding, along with millions in unspent federal funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) fund. Ohio also has billions reserved in a rainy day fund, Harner said. The Ohio Legislature adjourned for the summer without approving the funding for the food banks. The focus is now on Gov. Mike DeWine to take action to issue the funds through the Ohio State Controlling Board. Harner said help is needed in advocating for state funding. She said the West Ohio Food Bank is also looking to increase contacts with food manufacturers within its service area. "We also can take donations from trucking companies who may have their loads or partial loads/cases refused due to damage or something similar," Harner said. "We are always accepting financial contributions to assist with our efforts and volunteers to help us with distributions, packing boxes and other projects we have at our facility and throughout our service area." More information about the food bank, including contact information for potential volunteers or donors, is available on its website at www.westohiofoodbank.org Grant: 419-427-8412