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Senior services outlines food bag and grocery card plan after SNAP payments were delayed
Summary
Medina County Senior and Adult Services outlined a temporary food‑assistance plan for seniors after a delay in SNAP payments, proposing 320 shelf‑stable food bags and small grocery cards distributed through the county foundation and local partners.
Laura Toth, a representative of Medina County Senior and Adult Services, told commissioners that staff and volunteer teams are preparing a short-term response to interruptions in SNAP benefits for seniors. The plan, she said, calls for distribution of shelf-stable food bags and small grocery gift cards to eligible senior SNAP recipients in three parts of the county.
Toth said the foundation will purchase contents for 320 food packages to be assembled by staff and volunteers and distributed mid-month at locations in Brunswick, Medina and Wadsworth; the county would maintain a real-time recipient list so each senior receives only one bag. She described typical contents as peanut butter, soup, crackers, canned tuna or chicken salad and snacks. Toth told the board there is an option to assemble an additional 320 packages if demand requires it.
In addition to the shelf-stable kits, Toth said the foundation proposes to purchase $15 grocery cards to be used for fresh items (produce, meat and dairy). Toth also noted a separate distribution of $50 Aldi food-only gift cards is planned for a week after December; eligibility for that program is income‑based and distinct from the 320-package effort.
Toth said the farmers market program served 409 seniors and utilization had increased to 64% (about $13,161 of $20,450 issued) in the last month. She also reported that bathroom construction at the county senior center is about one week behind schedule because of a grout discrepancy but that work should finish mid‑November. The food bag program is intended as temporary assistance while SNAP adjustments are being resolved.
The board and staff announced same‑day donation drives (3–7 p.m.) at Feeding Medina County and two Salvation Army locations to help residents affected by the delayed SNAP distribution. Commissioners and staff said the foundation and local charities are coordinating outreach and will publicize flyers and social media notices once distribution details are finalized.
No vote or county funding commitment for the food bag program was recorded during the meeting; Toth said the foundation will present final details to the senior adult foundation board.
