LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Food insecurity affects every community in ways that often go unseen. September is recognized as Hunger Action Awareness Month, with today marking Hunger Action Awareness Day, a nationwide campaign to inspire action to end hunger in the United States.
In Lima, Mayor Sharetta Smith met with West Ohio Food Bank leaders to encourage residents to support the food bank’s mission of helping families who are struggling to put meals on the table.
“Right now in our history, we are facing the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits, which benefit these families that depend on these services,” Smith said.
West Ohio Food Bank CEO Tommie Harner said donations have slowed, but the need remains.
“We have seen a decrease in a lot of our food donations and some of the food we've gotten through USDA, but you know, we keep out there trying to resource and look for new donors that can bring in more food donations to us and just continue to meet that need,” Harner said.
Both Smith and Harner encouraged residents to make an extra effort to help their neighbors in need. They said community members can assist the West Ohio Food Bank by donating nonperishable food, giving monetary contributions, or volunteering their time at food distributions and drives.
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