Ohio food pantries facing increased need and decrease of funds ...Middle East

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Food banks and pantries across Ohio are dealing with an increase in need, and it comes at a time when they’re also facing a decrease in funds. 

Worthington Resource Pantry and Hilliard Food Pantry Plus posted on social media, warning residents that there may be a decrease in produce they have to offer.

“We know that because of those funding cuts, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective has had to adjust what fresh food it's able to to send to us,” Worthington Resource Pantry Executive Director Nick Linkenhoker said.

Both pantries rely on the Mid-Ohio Food Collective for a lot of those shipments. Linkenhoker said the pantry is expecting there to be a drop of one to three pallets a week.

“I'm anticipating that, in July, we're going to have to make some decisions about what kind of fresh produce we're giving away and what the balance is every month,” he said.

Ohio lawmakers sent the state’s $60 billion operating budget to the governor’s desk on Wednesday. Food banks asked for around $30 million to account for a rise in food costs and demand. However, the budget only accounts for up to $24.5 million.

“This isn't government waste," Linkenhoker said. "This is money that's being spent in really positive ways to make sure that everyone in our community gets value."

He said they’ve also lost around $12,000 in federal funding that the pantry was promised. Last week, the pantry hosted an Afternoon of Advocacy event where residents wrote letters to state and federal leaders.

“Food security is important to folks in central Ohio, and we want to make sure that our representatives and senators, both in Washington and here in Columbus, are aware that we're paying attention,” he said.

He also wanted to remind people that a lot of the produce they receive isn’t coming from overseas or anywhere far away. So this is also supporting Ohio agriculture.

“A lot of the funding that's being spent, especially from USDA and state sources, is going to local producers. So these are just Ohio sweet corn. It's Ohio cucumbers, Ohio beans, green peppers and Ohio dairy,” he said.

Linkenhoker said there is a lot of uncertainty ahead, but their goal is to make residents feel the impact as little as possible.

“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every person who needs food in this community has access to the food,” he said.

The amount of funding in the state budget is still not guaranteed. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has until Tuesday to decide what gets vetoed and what goes into law.

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