City of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has joined community leaders to announce more than $3 million in local support for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in the city. This is just as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an emergency Executive Order 2025-06D for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Directing the Provision of Temporary Assistance to Ohioans Facing Food Insecurity that will provide up to $25 million for food assistance to help Ohio families in the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Although a federal judge sided with the City of Columbus and others on Friday by ruling that the federal government must continue to pay SNAP benefits, payments are expected to be delayed and eligibility has been halted for many, necessitating local action.  

City of Columbus support introduced by Mayor Ginther includes:

• A grant of $500,000 to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC); Franklin County Board President, Commissioner Erica C. Crawley also announced that county commissioners will vote on a matching $500,000 grant at their Tuesday meeting.
• $2 million in emergency rental assistance that will soon be available to extremely low-income households through the city’s Resilient Housing Initiative. Individuals seeking rental assistance may visit rentful614.com.  
• City grants of $125,000 to Columbus City Schools to distribute packaged meals and self-stable food items to students and families; $40,000 to the Children’s Hunger Alliance to fund 1,500 meal boxes to be distributed to families via after-school programs; and $30,000 to Lifecare Alliance to provide frozen meals and snack items for distribution at Columbus Recreation and Parks Mobile Produce Markets.
• Columbus Public Health will also deploy Point of Distribution (POD) centers at the city’s Mobile Produce Markets starting this week. The PODs will distribute frozen meals, produce, shelf-stable goods, toiletries, hygiene products and diapers to Columbus SNAP recipients. Representatives will also be available to enroll qualifying individuals for utility discounts, WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) and other services. PODs will be open from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm:
  • Thursday, Nov. 6 – Glenwood Recreation Center, 1888 Fairmont Ave.
  • Friday, Nov. 7 – Scioto-Southland Recreation Center, 3901 Parsons Ave.
  • Monday, Nov. 10 – Linden Recreation Center, 1350 Briarwood Ave.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 12 – Far East Recreation Center, 826 Lattimer Dr.
• Recreation and Parks’ after-school programs will continue to provide afternoon meals to participants.

“This pooling of resources cannot replace the $31 million that should be flowing unimpeded to Franklin County SNAP recipients this month,” said Mayor Ginther.

“But we’re going to do what Columbus does best – stack hands and rise to the occasion to so we may help as many residents as possible stay healthy, safe and stable.”

“We’re not waiting on anyone else to fix this for us,” said Commissioner Crawley.

“We’re acting now, alongside our city, nonprofits, food banks and faith partners, because no one in Franklin County should ever go hungry while help is within reach. That’s why we’re stepping up again with $500,000 in emergency funding for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective to help our most in-need neighborhoods and ensure families, especially children and seniors, continue to have access to fresh, healthy food during this time of uncertainty.”

“These funds will help Mid-Ohio Food Collective procure more product, better support neighborhood pantries and ramp up operations to help as many people as we can,” said MOFC President and CEO Matt Habash. 

“More than that, they are proof that when times are tough, central Ohioans look out for one another. We asked the community to help us hold the line against hunger, and our city and county leaders answered the call.”

“The government shutdown has created new challenges for families across our city, particularly those who depend on SNAP benefits to meet their basic needs,” said Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent and CEO of Columbus City Schools.

“Access to food should never be uncertain for any child. At Columbus City Schools, we believe that every student deserves stability, nourishment, and the chance to focus on learning, not hunger. We’ll continue to advocate for our families and work with community partners to make sure support and resources are within reach.”

Mayor Ginther also reminded residents of resources available to help offset food costs: 

• Columbus Water & Power is pausing utility turn-offs related to non-payment and waiving late payment fees. SNAP recipients can also receive a one-time bill credit of $65 for water and $50 for power and an ongoing 25% discount on monthly utility usage. Apply atcolumbus.gov/payassist or by calling 614-645-8276.
• COTA offers a 50% discount on all fixed-rate fares to SNAP recipients who are enrolled in COTA’s digital payment system. Riders can enroll at the COTA Customer Experience Center at 33 N. High St., 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

City leaders also issued a call to central Ohioans to come together to support neighbors by:

• Making a financial contribution to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
• Donating food at local pantries, City of Columbus POD centers, or at City of Columbus waste and reuse centers, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm:
  • Alum Creek Waste and Reuse Convenience Center, 2100 Alum Creek Dr.
  • Georgesville Waste and Reuse Convenience Center, 1550 Georgesville Rd.
• Volunteering at a local food pantry.

In support of this community call-to-action, Mayor Ginther has invited the City of Columbus’ nearly 10,000 employees to donate food and hygiene items at workplace collection points.

These goods will be distributed at the POD events and at Thanksgiving meal giveaways sponsored by Recreation and Parks, the Columbus Division of Police and the Office of Violence Prevention.

Mayor Ginther has also invited employees to volunteer for up to four hours of a workday in November to support the food distribution efforts.  
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