Organizations across the state of Ohio meet Wednesday afternoon to rally at the statehouse in opposition of the proposed state 2024 budget.
LIMA — The mission of food banks is to ensure that people do not have to worry about going hungry, but Ohio food banks are concerned about facing potentially lean times themselves, and they made those concerns known Wednesday.
The West Ohio Food Bank gathered with several organizations Wednesday afternoon to rally at the Ohio Statehouse. The event took place following the Ohio Senate passing a budget for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, which included funding that would be distributed statewide to the 12 different food banks. In the House of Representatives, the food bank was awarded $39 million per year. Once the budget went to the Senate, the food bank was awarded $24.5 million per year.
“We along with several other groups from around the state, showing our support in this rally to back the House and the governor’s version of the upcoming approval of the state budget,” said Jason Aldrich WOFB Communications and Public Relations Manager. “The Senate’s version has made a lot of cuts which would trickle down and force us to make a lot of cuts at the food bank level. Many of our statewide programs are going to see reduced funding if the Senate version of the budget passes.”
The official budget is set to be approved on July 1. In the meantime, local organizations hope the budget will change.
In the 2022-2023 fiscal years, the food bank received $25 million per year. The Ohio Association of Food Banks requested $50 million per year to help fill the gaps for Ohioians who may lose ‘pre-pandemic’ SNAP benefits.
According to a previous article by The Lima News, WOFB services 11 counties. The article also states the cut went into effect March 1 impacting 13,000 people who lost around $95 or more dollars of monthly support.
“Along with food banks, there were childcare and healthcare groups there,” said Aldrich. “We’re all showing the unification against this Senate version of the projected budget, which will be for the next two years for the state of Ohio. We’re pushing for the governor and the House version of the budget which keeps a lot of that funding intact for groups like food banks around Ohio.”
Aldrich also said the WOFB need will continue to need the support of communities it serves regardless, but especially if the Senate’s budget passes into law.
“We just urge people to donate, whether it be with actual food, dry goods, canned goods and monetary donations,” said Aldrich. “We just want to see them continue to support us because if this cut funding goes through we are really going to rely on donations even more than we do now.”
To help, community members are welcome to donate or reach the West Ohio Food Bank at 419-222-7946.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
