Ohio Food Banks Warn of SNAP Benefits Delays
Columbus, Ohio – As the federal government shutdown nears its end, Ohio’s largest food banks are warning families: the need is far from over.
When SNAP benefits stopped on November 1, food pantries across central and eastern Ohio saw a surge in demand. Mike Hochron, Senior VP of Communications at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, said November 5 and 6 were the busiest days since summer 2024, even outside the usual holiday rush.
The delays follow a legal battle over SNAP funding. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to withhold funds, affecting 42 million Americans, including 1.45 million Ohio residents. A tentative plan aims to reopen the government and fund SNAP through September 2026, but families still face uncertainty.
Partial SNAP Benefits Start in Ohio
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced partial SNAP benefits could start as early as November 12. Most households will receive less than 65% of their usual benefits, and some may temporarily receive nothing. Michael Corey, Executive Director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, called it a step forward but said families will still feel the effects for weeks.
Food Pantries Are Struggling
Local pantries are stretched thin. NNEMAP Food Pantry in Columbus served 285 people on November 5 alone, and more than 200 families wait online daily at the Mid-Ohio Market in Grove City. To meet demand, pantries are buying extra food from local distributors, adding pressure to tight budgets.
Hochron said, “SNAP is not cash. Families will still face financial struggles even after benefits come back. We are not out of the woods.”
Food banks are urging Ohio residents to keep helping—donate, volunteer, or spread the word because the need is still very real.
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