Mid-Ohio Food Collective

With need at record highs, hundreds of U.S. food banks like us are facing steep cuts at the state AND federal level. At MOFC, we believe no one should go hungry. Call your state and federal lawmakers and tell them: Now is NOT the time to take food off hungry Ohioans' tables! Links to find your lawmakers and specific messages 👇 STATE: Tell your state representatives and senators to support food bank funding in the state budget. Look up your state leaders at: tinyurl.com/54f6p3u5 FEDERAL: Tell your national senators and reps to make sure food banks get what they need to take care of our neighbors! Find your congressional leaders here: tinyurl.com/mw52aptj

The cuts and uncertainty also threaten MOFC's mission of providing fresh food to people. Last year, 64% of the food MOFC served was fresh, according to MOFC data. The desire for making sure people have access to healthy food, Habash said, coincides with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, and said that food banks have been working on a national "food is medicine" strategy. https://lnkd.in/dSFAHfs9

Our mission is elevated every day by volunteers who dedicate their valuable time to helping others. It takes all of us to eradicate hunger. Thank you to Erie Insurance Group for joining us! Learn how your team can get involved by visiting: mofc.org/volunteer

We're halfway to our fundraising goal with Operation Feed! With the help of participating companies and individuals, you've helped us raise 3 million meals. Let's keep the momentum going! With the participation of hundreds of companies, organizations, and their associates across our 20-county footprint, this initiative connects more of our hungry neighbors to the meals they need to thrive. If you're interested in joining this ambitious coalition, visit: info.mofc.org/opfeed 

Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Mid-Ohio Food Collective, and that’s why we are proud to announce the launch of our Customer Advisory Council (CAC), a new effort to center the voices and perspectives of people we serve in meaningful ways.  The CAC is made up of customers who have received services from MOFC or our partner agency network within the past 12 months. Council members will work together to provide open feedback on MOFC services, act as customer advocates, and bring the voice of our community into MOFC’s decision-making processes.  Meet our inaugural team and learn more about how this group will make a lasting impact! https://lnkd.in/d25Hy384

Farm 🤝 Table We're excited to see the crops grow this season. Our Mid-Ohio Farms help teach groups various farming techniques all while growing and harvesting foods that can help feed our neighbors.

 Mike Hochron, MOFC vice president for communications and public affairs discussed the impact of the recent USDA program cancellation and its impact on the community. "If we have too many cuts in too many places, the total amount of food that we have is going to be reduced as well," Hochron said. "So we'll do the most we can with the resources that we have — but families coming to us for help might see some products that they're hoping to find just aren't on the shelves." We want to support farmers and build economic capacity among Ohio farmers. Ultimately the beneficiaries are food banks and the families we serve.

It's National Nutrition Month, and today especially, we're recognizing RDN's who help people make healthful food choices to fit their lives. Our team of dietitians at MOFC are nutrition experts, and work with partners in the community to help our neighbors and their families get regular access to healthy foods to make the most out of each meal.

Our team was recently in DC for the Feeding America fly-in to advocate for federal nutrition programs. Ohio Association of Foodbanks Thank you to the members of the Ohio congressional delegation and their staff for taking the time to meet with us. Federal nutrition programs are a lifeline for many in our communities—ranging from families, children, and seniors—and we will continue working to protect them. These meetings were mainly focused on TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Learn more about the work being done in our communities by visiting mofc.org/news/

📢 Site Visit Spotlight: Feed the Kids 🍎🎒 Last week, our team had the privilege of visiting Feed the Kids Columbus and touring their new warehouse space! 🏢✨ We got a behind-the-scenes look at how they organize and distribute food, thanks to their partnerships with Mid-Ohio Food Collective & Costco Wholesale. During our visit, we saw dedicated volunteers packing snack packs for monthly school deliveries and learned how school coordinators help manage logistics to ensure students receive the nutrition they need. 🍏📦 We know that hunger is a barrier to learning, and that’s why we’re committed to supporting efforts like Feed the Kids. 📚✏️ 🙌 Huge thanks to the Feed the Kids team for their passion and commitment to ensuring every child has the nourishment they need to succeed! 💙 Learn more about our nonprofit partners➡️ https://lnkd.in/gSe6QE5D #UnitedistheWay #UWCentralOhio #FeedTheKids #SuccessByThirdGrade #EndChildHunger #Local