COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that the state is pressing forward with a $25 million emergency plan to cushion the blow of suspended federal SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown, with millions already flowing to food banks and low-income families.The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) confirmed it is still reviewing new USDA guidance on possible partial November SNAP payments, but stressed that—absent an immediate shutdown resolution—benefits will not arrive this week.“Ohio will not wait for Washington,” DeWine said. “We are acting now to make sure no family goes hungry.”$7 Million to Regional Food BanksODJFS has transferred $7 million to Ohio’s 12 regional food banks, allocated by each bank’s share of the state’s SNAP caseload:
- Freestore Foodbank (Cincinnati): $795,637.50
- Greater Cleveland Food Bank: $1,170,837.50
- Toledo Seagate Food Bank: $570,937.50
- Mid-Ohio Food Collective (Columbus): $1,440,337.50
- Shared Harvest Foodbank (Fairfield): $1,431,937.50
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank: $887,337.50
- Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley (Youngstown): $427,437.50
- Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio (Lorain): $275,537.50
The remaining four food banks’ allocations were not detailed in the release but are part of the $7 million total.$18 Million for Ohio’s Poorest FamiliesUp to $18 million in emergency relief will reach more than 63,000 Ohioans—over 57,000 of them children—enrolled in Ohio Works First (OWF), the state’s cash assistance program for families at or below 50% of the federal poverty line.If the shutdown lasts all November, the aid will effectively double monthly OWF benefits. Families will receive:
- Their regular monthly OWF payment
- Plus a weekly emergency supplement equal to 25% of their normal monthly amount, for up to four weeks or until federal SNAP resumes
ODJFS expects the first weekly payments to hit accounts by Friday, November 7.WIC Program Secured Through DecemberThe Ohio Department of Health received $10.3 million from the USDA on Tuesday, ensuring uninterrupted Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits into December.The program serves roughly 180,000 Ohio mothers, infants, and children monthly through 75 local agencies in all 88 counties, providing nutrient-rich foods like milk, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, beans, fish, and infant formula—along with nutrition education and health referrals.DeWine’s office emphasized that state actions are a bridge, not a substitute, for federal programs. “This is temporary relief,” a spokesperson said. “Congress must reopen the government and restore full SNAP funding without delay.”
