LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The West Ohio Food Bank opened its doors to local, state, and federal legislators on Monday.
The West Ohio Food Bank opened its doors to local, state, and federal legislators on Monday.
Lima mayor Sharetta Smith, Allen County commissioner Cory Noonan, and representatives from Congressmen Latta's and Jordan's offices were in attendance. They toured the facility, saw a monthly food distribution, and heard from food bank administrators about the need for additional funding to meet the needs of area residents to put food on the table. With the Farm Bill still at a standstill, food bank officials say they need funding and program updates.
"When you think about the Farm Bill, it passes every five years. The last one we saw was in 2018. So, the world has really changed since then, and so we really need our nutrition programs and, frankly, our farms' programs to reflect that," said Sarah Kuhns, Ohio Association of Food Banks.
Officials toured the facility, saw a monthly food distribution, and heard from food bank administrators about the need for additional funding.
Locally the West Ohio Food Bank says they have worked with the city and the county, which both have assisted with new programs to help residents in need.
"Well, one of the things that we're already doing is we have a partnership with our Lima Police Department with West Ohio Food Bank. Where when our officers go to a home that may be experiencing any kind of distress, we are able to leave shelf-prepared items with that family as well as give them a voucher to the West Ohio Food Bank," stated Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Mayor Sharetta Smith, Commissioner Cory Noonan, and representatives from Congressmen Latta's and Jordan's offices were in attendance.
"It was neat to hear about the grant we were able to work with the agency on aging to get through the state of Ohio and how it was able to assist folks coming through the West Ohio Food Bank," commented Cory Noonan, Allen County Commissioner.
That Healthy Aging Grant provided $25 gift cards to 600-plus seniors served by the food bank.
To learn more about upcoming activities and holiday distributions with the West Ohio Food Bank, you can watch our recent Noon Edition interview below:
INTERVIEW: We learned about upcoming activities and holiday distributions from the West Ohio Food Bank!
