(The Center Square) – With 1.4 million Ohioans expected to lose federal food benefits Saturday and communities scrambling to fill the gap, state taxpayers are kicking in help.
After pleadings from state Democrats over the past week to step in, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed an emergency order releasing $25 million in taxpayer funds for food.
DeWine, along with Sen. President Rob McColley, R-Napolean, and House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, announced details of the plan that directs the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to give $7 million to Ohio Food Banks and $18 million in emergency relief benefits to more than 63,000 people in Ohio.
That number includes 57,000 children who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level.
“The easiest and best way to help Ohioans in need of food assistance is for U.S. Senate Democrats to end its filibuster of SNAP benefits and other important federal programs and approve the clean continuing resolution passed by the U.S. House,” DeWine said in a statement. “While it is no substitute for the relief Senate Democrats could provide today, this funding will help get more resources into the household budgets of the Ohio families who need it most.”
However, the state does not plan to use any of its historically high $3.9 billion rainy day fund to cover SNAP benefits.
“The [Budget Stabilization fund] is there to protect Ohio’s balanced budget from any potential unexpected shortfalls,” McColley said in a statement. “This plan simply redirects resources to neighborhood food banks that work on the front lines with families who need help during this challenging time.”
Democrats said the plan doesn’t go far enough, excluding direct support for more than half a million children currently receiving SNAP.
“Millions of Ohioans are days away from not knowing how they’re going to put food on the table. Moms will have to look their children in the eyes and explain why there’s no breakfast or no dinner,” House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, said in a statement. “I am grateful that there will be some relief for those in need, but this executive order does not go nearly far enough to help. We are on the tipping edge of a crisis and the governor needs to do more.”
Elsewhere, communities are working to pick up the slack.
The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department plans to offer free meals for students every day at several centers through its afternoon program. It also plans to distribute free produce.
In small towns around the state, churches and other nonprofit organizations plan to step in to fill the void.
In Mount Vernon, a small community in north central Ohio, various churches plan to offer meals each day.
