LIMA, OH (WLIO) - It's a new year but the need of many to get food on the table continues.
The West Ohio Food Bank holding its first food distribution of 2024. The two scheduled distributions for the month of January at the food bank are already full. Those distributions will provide assistance to nearly 800 families. The food bank says they normally see an increase in the new year as donations drop off after the holidays. However, with the current economic climate, the need for food assistance continues to grow.
"During this time of year, things are a little bit worse because of the high cost of electricity, food at an all-time high that we've seen when we go to the stores. So people are just struggling to meet paycheck to paycheck and we're just here to help them," commented Tommie Harner, CEO of West Ohio Food Bank.
They do ask that you meet an income level per family size. Each distribution sees different food being provided depending on what they have available. You do receive a protein and vegetable along with other items. If you are in need of assistance and haven't been able to get registered for a distribution time you do have other options.
"We have a ton of partner agencies and each of our 11 counties that we service. They can go onto our website wofb.org and they can look by county at each one of those partners and it will tell them the days and times and hours of operation. Or they can just give us a phone call. We can give them direction on how to get some help and then of course if it's a very emergency situation we will make sure that they have food in their house," added Harner.
There is an additional distribution sponsored by Cricket Wireless on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at the old K-Mart on Allentown Road. You will need to register online at https://www.westohiofoodbank.org/ under the "Need food?" tab.
