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Council recognizes Hunger Action Month; Mid-Ohio Food Collective outlines worsening demand
Summary
Council adopted a resolution recognizing September as Hunger Action Month and heard from Tim White of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, who described growing demand, large distributions and reliance on government sources amid declining resources.
Columbus City Council adopted a resolution recognizing September as Hunger Action Month and invited Tim White, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, to speak about local food security needs.
White told council the Mid-Ohio Food Collective is the largest food bank in Ohio and serves 20 counties through a network of more than 600 partners. He said the organization distributed more than 51 million pounds of food in Franklin County in 2024, with roughly 45% of that coming from government sources. White reported more than 1.8 million visits across the agency’s 20-county service area last year—a 58% increase over the peak of the COVID-19 period—and warned that demand remains elevated as federal and state funding sources shrink.
Councilmembers praised the collective’s work and highlighted local partnerships, including support for the Eastland Prosperity Center renovation. Councilmember Banks noted innovations in food rescue and urban agriculture partnerships, and Councilmember Green urged colleagues to work with community organizations to identify gaps and bridge them amid recent state budget decisions.
The resolution passed on a voice roll call recorded by the clerk.
