Hunger Action Month: New Data, Real Stories

In this episode of Just a Bite, our host Eliza Richardson speaks with Zach Reat, Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, and Amy Headings, RD, Director of Research and Nutrition at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Together, they discuss how diabetes, and other diet related chronic health conditions impact individuals experiencing hunger and food insecurity, the impact this can have on their overall health outcomes, and the programs that exist to treat the health conditions of neighbors across Ohio.   Key Topics Covered Topic 1 – Diabetes Awareness Month: The Connection Between Hunger and Health Topic 2 – Food is Medicine in Ohio’s Hunger Relief Network  Topic 3 – Increasing Nutrition Support   Key Statistics or Facts Mentioned Diabetes affects roughly 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. According to the 2026 Hunger Study, conducted by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, roughly 76% of foodbank participants surveyed said someone in their household was living with a health condition, and 31% of household surveyed included at least one member with diabetes.   About Our Guest  Zach Reat serves as the Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.  Amy Headings is a Registered Dietitian and serves as the Director of Research and Nutrition at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.   About Just a Bite Just a Bite is a podcast from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks exploring issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio. Through conversations with experts, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders, we aim to provide listeners with timely information and actionable insights.  Connect With Us Website: OhioFoodbanks.org / https://just-a-bite.castos.com/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioFoodbanks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohio-association-of-foodbanks/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiofoodbanks/  Take Action After listening to this episode, consider:   Sharing this resource with a friend, family member, or client   Contacting your local foodbank or pantry  Asking your provider about Farmacy Ohio   If you are a provider, becoming a certified Farmacy Ohio referral partner   Learning more about the connection between Hunger and Health through the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, 2026 Hunger Study Report   Signing up for updates from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks   Participating in an upcoming event or advocacy opportunity   Learning more at OhioFoodbanks.org  Subscribe & Share If you enjoyed this show, consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Leave a review, and share it with your network to help others learn more about issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio and across the country. 

In this episode of Just a Bite, host Hope Lane-Gavin speaks with Ashley Roudebush, Senior Manager, Benefits Access at Share Our Strength, about major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. Together, they discuss how the Working Families Tax Cuts changed SNAP eligibility and work requirements, what families may experience as states implement new rules, and what advocates and service providers can do to help people stay informed and connected to support.  Key Topics Covered Topic 1 – Working Families Tax Cuts / OBBBA / HR 1 Topic 2 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) changes / data Topic 3 – SNAP purchasing restrictions  Topic 4 – New stocking standards for SNAP authorized retailers   Resources Mentioned About No Kid Hungry  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities SNAP tracker  Ohio Public Assistance Monthly Statistics (PAMS)  SNAP Data tables (USDA)  One-Page Summary of SNAP Provisions in H.R.1 with Implementation Timeline Research Brief: The Impact of H.R.1 SNAP Cuts on ChildrenAdvocacy Alert: Tell Congress: Families Deserve Relief: Reverse SNAP Cuts NowResearch Brief:

September is Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness and inspire action to end hunger in America. In this episode of Just a Bite, host Eliza Richardson is joined by Audrey Vanzant, director of communications at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and project manager for the 2026 Hunger Study.  Together, they discuss findings from the latest statewide survey of Ohio food pantry visitors and share what more than 2,600 neighbors told us about the realities of putting food on the table today. They explore the difficult tradeoffs many households face, the connection between food insecurity and health, the role of public benefit programs, and the importance of listening directly to people with lived experience.  The episode also features stories from neighbors across Ohio, including Charmaine and Joanne, whose experiences illustrate the challenges behind the data and the resilience of Ohio families.  Resources Read the full Hunger Study 2026 Report at ohiofoodbanks.org/HungerStudy Learn more about Hunger Action Month here!  About Just a Bite Just a Bite is a podcast from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks exploring issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio. Through conversations with experts, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders, we aim to provide listeners with timely information and actionable insights.  Connect With Us Website: OhioFoodbanks.org and our podcast website  Newsletter/Advocacy Action Alerts: https://ohiofoodbanks.quorum.us/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioFoodbanks  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohio-association-of-foodbanks/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiofoodbanks/  Take Action After listening to this episode, consider:  Sharing this show with a friend, family member, or neighbor  Connecting with your local foodbank or pantry  Signing up for updates from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks  Participating in an upcoming event or advocacy opportunity  Learning more at OhioFoodbanks.org  Subscribe & Share If you enjoyed this show, consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Leave a review and share it with your network to help others learn more about issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio and across the country. 

In this episode of Just a Bite, host Sarah Kuhns speaks with Maureen Allen, director of community service at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks about the new Healthy Harvest Corp program operating in the hunger relief network in Ohio. Next, Sarah interviews Tinu Daboiku, Healthy Harvest Corp volunteer at the Foodbank Inc, about his service through this program over the summer. Together, they discuss what the Healthy Harvest Corps is, what their service projects consist of, and why they decided to serve their community in this way.   Whether you're at an organization that is interested in being a host site, someone who is interested in serving your community, or simply interested in learning more about AmeriCorps, especially the new Healthy Harvest Corps program, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical information.  Thank you to ServeOhio, Ohio's commission on service and volunteerism, for their support of this program. Resources Mentioned Look at all AmeriCorps positions across the country here.  Look at open AmeriCorps positions through the Ohio hunger relief network here.   About Our Guest Tinu Daboiku is a Healthy Harvest Corps volunteer at the Foodbank, Inc, in Dayton, Ohio. He also runs a business called Glorified Dirt, LLC, “providing communities with sustainable solutions and creating healthier soil for more robust food systems and a sustainable future. You can learn more here.   About Just a Bite Just a Bite is a podcast from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks exploring issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio. Through conversations with experts, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders, we aim to provide listeners with timely information and actionable insights.  Connect With Us Website: OhioFoodbanks.org / https://just-a-bite.castos.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioFoodbanks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohio-association-of-foodbanks/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiofoodbanks/  Take Action After listening to this episode, consider:    Applying for or learning more about AmeriCorps     Sharing this resource with a friend, family member, or client    Contacting your local foodbank or pantry    Signing up for updates from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks    Participating in an upcoming event or advocacy opportunity    Learning more at Ohiofoodbanks.org  Subscribe & Share If you enjoyed this show, consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Leave a review, and share it with your network to help others learn more about issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio and across the country.

In this episode of Just a Bite, host Hope Lane-Gavin, OAF’s Director of Nutrition Policy and Programs speaks internally with Ohio Association of Foodbanks staff members: starting with Carrie Harshbarger, OAF’s Senior Director of Food Supply Chain, then to Grace Wagner, our Director of Health Initiatives and finally to Gregory Pruden, our long-time IT consultant.   Together, they have some fun highlighting the importance of the local food supply chain by overviewing Ohio’s vast summer farmers market network.  Whether you're a member of a local food policy council, a farmer’s market aficionado, or simply interested in learning more about the local food supply chain, this conversation offers valuable insights and practical information in addition to new voices from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks!  Resources  Find a farmers market near you here.   Learn more about farmers markets in Ohio through the Ohio Farmers Market Network here.   Learn more about doubling your SNAP dollars through Produce Perks.   Learn more about the co-ops and farm stores Carrie mentioned during her segment, the Winchester Farm Exchange and the Beechwold Farm Market.   About Just a Bite  Just a Bite is a podcast from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks exploring issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio. Through conversations with experts, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders, we aim to provide listeners with timely information and actionable insights.  Connect With Us  Website: OhioFoodbanks.org and our podcast website   Newsletter/Advocacy Action Alerts: https://ohiofoodbanks.quorum.us/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioFoodbanks  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohio-association-of-foodbanks/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohiofoodbanks/    Take Action After listening to this episode, consider:  Checking out your local farmer’s market or co-op  Sharing this show with a friend, family member, or neighbor  Connecting with your local foodbank or pantry  Signing up for updates from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks  Participating in an upcoming event or advocacy opportunity  Learning more at OhioFoodbanks.org  Subscribe & Share  If you enjoyed this show, consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! Leave a review and share it with your network to help others learn more about issues related to food and nutrition security in Ohio and across the country. 

Summer is here in Ohio! While many families look forward to taking a break from school, and spending more time together outdoors, summer for many Ohio families means less food to feed their children. In Ohio, thousands of children depend on the meals they receive from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to keep them fed and nourished throughout the school day. However, when these meals disappear during the summertime, families with children struggle to fill this gap and put enough food on the table throughout the summer months.   In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Amos, Vice President of Programs at the Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) to discuss the resources available to families who may be experiencing this gap in meals. Resources such as Summer Meal Sites, and Summer EBT/SUN Bucks can help to support families with children during the summertime.     References:   To find a summer meal site nearest you, visit: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Food-and-Nutrition/Summer-Food-Service-Program.   To learn more about the summer feeding resources that are available to families, visit: https://childrenshungeralliance.org/SUMMER/   To find out if you are eligible for Summer EBT/SUN Bucks, or to fill out an application, visit: https://sebt.ohio.gov/apply/   For outreach materials that can help to educate families about the resources available to them this summer, visit: https://ohiosummerebt.org/outreach-materials/    Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload them every month!   Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, and take our latest hunger fighting action.   Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger. Our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.   For more information, visit us at ohiofoodbanks.org.  

May is National Older Americans Month, and in this episode of Just a Bite, we highlight an important program helping combat senior hunger in our communities: the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as the “Senior Box.” CSFP is a federal program that provides adults age 60 and older with low incomes a monthly box of nutritious, shelf-stable USDA foods. These boxes include everyday essentials like cereal, pasta, peanut butter, canned goods, cheese, and juice—ingredients that help support health and food security. To see the program in action, we visited Second Harvest Food Bank of Champaign, Clark, and Logan Counties, where participants in a local senior center cooking class turn these simple ingredients into delicious meals. From stories to hands-on cooking, this episode offers a closer look at how food access brings both nourishment and community. Special thanks to Natasha at Second Harvest Food Bank CCL and the seniors who shared their time, experience, and recipe tips. Are you interested in learning more about CSFP or intersted in volunteering to pack these boxes? Learn more about the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp Find your local foodbank:Foodbanks - Ohio Association of Foodbanks Second Harvest Food Bank (Champaign, Clark & Logan Counties): https://www.theshfb.org Thanks for listening to Just a Bite! Be sure to subscribe, share, and join us next time for another bite.

April is National Volunteer Month! Volunteers make it possible for our member food banks to serve millions of meals each year. Without our volunteers, the work of our foodbanks would not be possible. In this episode, we sit down with Susan, a dedicated long-term volunteer with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, who shares her experiences, motivations, and the impact of giving back through volunteering. Susan offers a firsthand look at how volunteering strengthens Ohio’s hunger relief network, and communities across Ohio. A special thank you to Susan for sharing her story with us, and to all our volunteers for their continued dedication to serving food insecure Ohioans. References: To learn more about volunteering at your local foodbank, visit ohiofoodbanks.org/how-to-help/. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload them every month! Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, and take our latest hunger fighting action. Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger. Our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.

This March, we are doing something a little different for the podcast. We are giving you a peek behind the curtain on what we call our “fly-in” which we do every year. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks, our member foodbanks and hundreds of other foodbanks from across the country fly to DC in the spring to meet with their members of Congress, talk about what we are seeing in our communities, and what solutions we would like to see to alleviate need and support the families we serve.  This year is no different, with Ohio foodbanks flying in almost 20 representatives from 7 foodbanks all across the state to meet with 12 of our 15 members of Congress and 2 U.S. Senators, with support from Feeding America. In this episode, we want share what it's like to spend about 36 hours in DC engaging with your elected officials and representing your organization alongside other Ohioans. We want to thank Julie Chase Morefield at the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio, Natalie Canter at the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, Hallie Carrino-Lee at the Mid Ohio Food Collective and Rachel Rives for sharing more insight about our time in DC.   References:   To learn more about the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio, visit their website here.   To learn more about the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, visit their website here.   To learn more about the Mid Ohio Food Collective, visit their website here.   To learn more about the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the innovative ways Ohio foodbanks are meeting the nutritional needs of older Ohioans, and how the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act can help, check out this Ohio Association of Foodbanks report.   To learn more about hunger and poverty in your county, check out our UPDATED county fact sheets!  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload them every other week!        Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, and take  our latest hunger-fighting actions!             Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.   

In this episode, we sit down for a second time with Maura, a SNAP recipient from Clark County, Ohio to get an update on her experience of being a victim of SNAP Skimming. If you have not listened to our original episode with Maura, listen to our episode titled ‘Stolen at the Checkout: A SNAP Skimming Story’, which was released in January of 2026. A year after we recorded this episode with Maura in February of 2025, we are sitting down with her again to discuss her experience in the last year with SNAP benefit theft, updates to her SNAP case, how her family adjusted through the longest government shutdown in history, and discuss potential policy changes that can protect SNAP beneficiaries from benefit theft. We are so excited to have Maura back on the podcast, and cannot thank her enough for trusting us with her story. References: Senate Bill 315 | 136th General Assembly | Ohio Senate  House Bill 163 | 136th General Assembly | Ohio House of Representatives   Thieves stole $17M in Ohio food stamp benefits. One change could help   Federal Government Shutdown - Ohio Association of Foodbanks  Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload them every other week! Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, and take our latest hunger-fighting actions! Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.