OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS INC

THE OHIO FOOD PROGRAM AND AGRICULTURAL CLEARANCE PROGRAM (OFPACP) PROVIDE A NOURISHING SELECTION OF PERISHABLE AND SHELF-STABLE FOODS TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH OHIO'S STATEWIDE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK. WITH $15 MILLION, THE OHIO FOOD PROGRAM PURCHASED 16.5 MILLION POUNDS OF SHELF-STABLE FOODS AND PROTEIN ITEMS. WITH $10.9 MILLION, THE OHIO AGRICULTURAL CLEARANCE PROGRAM SOURCED 36.7 MILLION POUNDS OF SURPLUS OR UNMARKETABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. OFPACP IS FUNDED BY THE STATE OF OHIO THROUGH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AND PROVIDED 53.3 MILLION TOTAL POUNDS OF FOOD TO OHIO FOODBANKS TO SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $0.486 PER POUND. OFPACP PROVIDED $3.8 MILLION TO OHIO'S FOODBANKS TOWARD THE COST OF SAFELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND EQUITABLY STORING AND DISTRIBUTING THE FOOD THROUGHOUT ALL OF OHIO'S 88 COUNTIES. IN ADDITION, OFPACP PROVIDED $389,294 IN CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR FOODBANKS AND MEMBER AGENCIES TO MAINTAIN, REPLACE, OR EXPAND FOOD STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION, AND HANDLING INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT.

THE OHIO CAN (COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION) PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LFPA) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENTS OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AND AGRICULTURE. THROUGH OHIO CAN, WITH $10.7 MILLION, THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS PURCHASED 4.2 MILLION POUNDS OF IN-DEMAND FOOD PRODUCTS WHOLLY GROWN, PRODUCED, AND MINIMALLY PROCESSED BY LOCAL, HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS, PRODUCERS, AND SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTED THOSE FOODS TO UNDERSERVED OHIOANS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OHIO'S FOODBANKS. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 150 LOCAL FARMERS, GROWERS, AND SUPPLIERS PARTICIPATED IN OHIO CAN AND THE ASSOCIATION ALSO PARTNERED WITH SIX STATEWIDE FOOD HUBS AND AGGREGATORS TO PROCURE FOODS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED LOCAL VENDORS AND SUPPORT A RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN. OHIO CAN SUPPLIED MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION WHOLESOME MEALS TO FOOD INSECURE OHIOANS. FUTURE FEDERAL LFPA FUNDING WAS TERMINATED IN EARLY 2025 AND OHIO CAN ENDED, WITH ALL FUNDS EXPENDED, ON JUNE 30, 2025.