SNAP Stopped
Late last October, the USDA announced SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) would be disrupted for the first time ever. The agency shared that November benefits would not be paid because of the federal government shutdown.
SNAP Helps Feed
322,000
People in MOFC’s
20-County Footprint
SNAP Puts About
$55 Million
Back into our regional
economy every month.
Knowing more families would soon need to turn to us and our pantry partners for help, MOFC quickly sought out new sources of food, funds, and support. Our teams asked policymakers, corporate donors, and everyday people for relief. Central and eastern Ohio answered the call.
“When you’re dealt a bad hand, you try to use resources that are provided. When they’re snatched away, you feel hopeless. I’m doing all the right things, but even the right things aren’t working anymore.”
– Craig, Columbus resident and SNAP recipient.
YOU STEPPED IN
In response to our calls for help, local and state leaders pledged emergency funding to MOFC and central Ohio’s anti-hunger network. Corporate partners increased bulk donations. Residents and small businesses held food drives for MOFC and local partner agencies. Everyday people stepped up too, giving more than twice as many donations as the same timeframe last year.
More Than
4,400
New MOFC Donors
(10/24 to 11/24)
More Than
550
People Become Monthly Sustainers
Emergency Funding Received From:
State of Ohio
City of Columbus
Franklin County
Columbus Foundation
Mid-ohio Food Collective DElivered
Building on our community’s incredible response, MOFC moved quickly to buy and distribute more healthy, high-demand foods that customers would need. Emergency orders began arriving at MOFC on October 29, and we supplied local partner agencies across 20 counties in time to help families through the crisis. Here’s how MOFC put the community’s support to work:
- 1,300,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce
- 5,000,000 Eggs
- 100,000 Gallons of Milk
- 487,000 Pounds of Meat
- 463,000 Pounds of Shelf-Stable Foods
Your Support Helped MOFC Distribute:
More than 100 Truckloads of food
That’s 3.4 Million Pounds of Relief for Hungry Neighbors!
“Many people are suffering because of this shutdown. It’s a blessing to have these resources, and I’m glad they are available for people in need in these tough times.”
– Hope, Columbus resident and pantry customer.
Safeguarding snap
The government shutdown ended November 12, and full SNAP benefits were finally restored the following week. But the impacts of the shutdown—and of our community’s response—will be felt for months.
The need for food assistance in central and eastern Ohio remains near all-time highs, and supporting MOFC’s anti-hunger work (including our advocacy around SNAP) is one of the best ways to build hunger-free, healthier communities together. Help us make a difference today!
