The executive budget proposal would reduce funding for foodbanks by $7.5 million per fiscal year even as foodbanks are experiencing “record high utilization,” Ohio Association of Foodbanks (OAF) Executive Director Joree Novotny told the House Finance Committee this week.

“We respectfully request the restoration of this $7.5 million per year cut and additional funding of $4.93 million per year, for a total investment of $36.98 million per fiscal year in the 2026-27 state biennial budget. Foodbanks saw an average year-over-year increase in utilization of about 10 percent from 2020 to 2023, and then this rate accelerated significantly in the 2024-25 biennium,” Novotny said.

“From July to December 2024, we provided take-home groceries to more than 8.2 million food pantry visitors in six months, or nearly 1.4 million visitors per month,” she continued. “That represents a 64.71 percent increase in households with children compared to 2019, and a 70.32 percent increase in the number of seniors compared to 2019. In fact, the number of seniors seeking help from our food pantry network has gone up by 97 percent since 2016, as older adults continue to enter retirement without adequate savings and resources to afford rising housing and health care costs.”

Novotny said OAF’s budget request would allow the organization to provide at least 58 million pounds of food to all of Ohio’s 88 counties.

“In addition to creating and maintaining nearly 300 jobs in Ohio’s food supply chain, rescuing food that would have otherwise been wasted, and putting nourishing food on the table for 1.33 million food pantry visitors per month, we will stretch that investment by leveraging an estimated 85,000 unduplicated volunteers that will contribute 360,000 volunteer hours valued at about $10.5 million each year of the biennium and sourcing an estimated 140 million pounds of donated and privately purchased foods valued at about $220 million each year of the biennium,” Novotny said.

Along with the proposed cuts at the state level, foodbanks are also dealing with funding reductions, delayed food deliveries and uncertainty at the federal level.

Novotny told Hannah News that her organization has been informed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is terminating the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LPFA) program, also known as “Ohio CAN” in the Buckeye State. Novotny said the program will be terminated in Ohio at the end of FY25.

Novotny said Ohio CAN has been a “resounding success,” and has connected small farmers with regional and statewide food hubs, allowing them to grow their markets while providing nutritious food to hungry Ohioans.

“The Ohio Association of Foodbanks -- in partnership with its member foodbanks, the state of Ohio, Ohio’s food hubs and more than 170 farmers, growers, and producers within a 400-mile radius of … Columbus -- have been proud to work together on this program that supports our local and regional food system and opportunities for improved growth and solvency for beginning and limited resource farmers. Ohio CAN also put about 4.6 million pounds, or 3.8 million meals, of healthy produce, protein, dairy and grains on the table for Ohio families turning to foodbanks for help last year,” Novotny said.

Novotny also pointed to a recent study on Ohio CAN, showing the effect the program is having on employment, future business planning and sales for Ohio’s local food system.

“In a survey of Ohio CAN vendor partners, nearly half (47.5 percent) reported hiring additional employees because of Ohio CAN, and more than three in four (77 percent) reported plans to expand into new markets, expand sales outlets, or expand their range of products,” she said. “Similarly, 74 percent reported that participation in Ohio CAN has expanded new business relationships and opportunities, and the vast majority (92.5 percent) reported an increase in overall sales since they began participating in Ohio CAN, with 90 percent reporting that participation in Ohio CAN has led to new revenue opportunities.”

Novotny also pointed to issues with other food programs administered by the federal government.

“We understand that every administration will have different priorities for Commodity Credit Corporation funds. Unfortunately, previously planned loads of food from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) that were to be supported with CCC dollars have also not been delivered. We look forward to working with our longtime partners at USDA, Congress and the state of Ohio to ensure that every American family can access wholesome foods from our hunger relief network when they need help, and that American farmers can continue to thrive as they work hard to feed each and every one of us,” she said.

Additionally, Novotny said she hopes Congress will pass a Farm Bill that includes permanent funding authorization for LPFA, and adequate funding for TEFAP and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).