Food Assistance

The Trump administration has agreed to fund SNAP benefits for the nation through money from an Agriculture Department contingency fund. But, these funds equate to only half of the typical benefits disseminated, and recipients could expect delays.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called the local resources a "short-term approach to a crisis," and said it was up to the federal government to fully fund food assistance.

Central Ohio nonprofit groups are scrambling to prepare, in case federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, runs out this weekend.

Around 1.4 million Ohio residents receive a total of $264 million in SNAP benefits every month. That breaks down to a monthly average of $190 in SNAP benefits per person.

1.4 million Ohioans currently rely on SNAP or food stamps.

Produce Perks supports more than 150 farms, markets and grocers in Ohio. Some are concerned about the future of the program after more than $5 million in USDA funding for the program was clawed back.

Broad Street Presbyterian Food Pantry Director Kathy Kelly-Long believes need will increase if the program is cut back, and she said food pantries can't keep up.

The bill includes cutbacks on federal funding for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), which was formerly known as food stamps. The bill would cut back almost $300 billion to SNAP over the next 10 years.

The Shagbark Seed and Mill in Athens used the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program for over two years. Now that funding is being cut by DOGE.

Ahead of a holiday that’s all about the food, we're looking at the state of hunger in Ohio.