Ohio Association of Foodbanks

Thank you Deborah Swerdlow & Alan Shannon for visiting the tri-state area to see some of the USDA's new and innovative programs in action with our member foodbank, The Freestore Foodbank. It's always a pleasure to show off delicious, wholesome foods that we've sourced from emerging local suppliers to help nourish people facing hunger.

Team Ohio is here at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference put on by Food Research & Action Center! We have had a great couple days hearing from experts in the field on all things food security, SNAP, and of course, #FarmBill. We had the privilege of participating in three sessions! Hope, our director of nutrition policy and programs moderated for a session titled SNAP Adequacy: How States are Adopting Supplemental Benefits. Kam McKenzie with The Freestore Foodbank, Bailey with Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Hope Lane-Gavin with OAF led a session titled Supporting Succesful Reentry: Outreach for Justice. And finally, our executive director, Joree Novotny shared her expertise on a session titled The End of SNAP Emergency Allotments: Research and Advocacy. #hungerpc24

Our team had an amazing day volunteering at SE Ohio Foodbank & Kitchen and Shared Harvest Foodbank today! It’s always wonderful to see everything in action. A HUGE thank you to our incredible volunteers, staff, and neighbors for showing up with kindness and smiles! 😊 #VolunteerWeek

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks team had an incredible time volunteering in the western part of our state today at West Ohio Food Bank and The Foodbank, Inc.! We loved connecting with our neighbors, dedicated volunteers, and the amazing foodbank staff who work tirelessly to support our communities. A huge thank you to everyone for having us! We’re eager to continue our journey at Shared Harvest Foodbank tomorrow and SE Ohio Foodbank on Friday. Excited about #VolunteerWeek! 🌟

We are honored to have been selected as the 2023 Partner of the Year for OSHIIP (Ohio Department of Insurance)! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program for this recognition and want to send big congratulations to our Strategic Initiatives team here at OAF! Through initiatives like Get Covered Ohio, we strive to ensure that every individual has access to affordable healthcare options that meet their needs. Navigators, certified and licensed by federal and state authorities, provide free and impartial assistance to help Ohioans navigate the complexities of healthcare coverage. Additionally, resources like OSHIIP offer invaluable one-on-one counseling and education on Medicare options. Thank you to OSHIIP for this honor. #GetCoveredOhio To learn more about the program, please visit https://lnkd.in/gri7aBUE

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks team was proud to attend a Hunger Free Campus event today at the University of Cincinnati! We were pleased to be joined by our colleague, Kurt Reiber, CEO & President of The Freestore Foodbank to share meaningful conversation on such a deserving topic. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/dFpAuha

We are so honored to have received one of seven Feeding America Network Celebration Awards at our national network's annual conference. We were selected for this honor in recognition of our "better together" approach to Ohio's LFPA program, Ohio CAN. This award is a reflection of the hard work of our staff as well as the extraordinary local farmers, growers, and suppliers, foodbankers, state agency staff and leaders at Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, federal partners at USDA, and neighbors who have come together to shape this collective work. Thank you to Feeding America for this recognition and to the Many Voices who continue to coalesce around One Vision to build and sustain resilient local food supply chains and provide delicious, nutritious food to neighbors facing hunger. Learn more from Feeding America's press release: https://lnkd.in/gZm7XA-9 *OAF starts at 4:02, although we encourage you to watch the full video to see the incredible work our colleagues are doing in their home state!

A big thanks to you, Elizabeth! It was our pleasure to have you and Robert join us for a couple days to celebrate in the hard work we are doing to fight hunger in Ohio. Your support, along with everyone at Feeding America, fills us with immense gratitude.

📣 AmeriCorps VISTA Alums Unite for AmeriCorps Week l March 10-16 Did you know there are over 1.25 million AmeriCorps alums? Amazingly, seven of these incredible alums currently contribute their talents to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks! Yes, that's right—nearly a third of our team members have a background in AmeriCorps or have served in some capacity. Take a moment to learn more about these remarkable individuals! Biggest thanks and gratitude to Joree Novotny, Zach Reat, Carrie Dennis, Carrie Harshbarger, Carol Whitmer, Grace Traini Wagner, and Maureen Allen. Not only do they contribute to our organization daily, but they've also served as AmeriCorps members. Having individuals with servant hearts on our team is truly the best ❤️ Find out more: Bit.ly/ACWSPK24, and be sure to leave a comment expressing your gratitude for their dedicated service! #AmeriCorpsWeek #AmeriCorpsWeek2024 #AmeriCorps30 #AmeriCorpsAlum

It is AmeriCorps Week, March 10-16! Join us to recognize and thank the AmeriCorps members who have continued to make a difference in our communities for the past 30 years! We're kicking off the festivities with a special spotlight on Eliza Richardson, an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as a Hunger and Health Associate at the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Eliza is a true Ohioan, born in Lakewood and now residing in Grandview Heights. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and international studies from Ohio Wesleyan University! In her role as the AmeriCorps VISTA for Hunger and Health for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, she is responsible for assisting in statewide efforts to expand food is medicine programs within our network. She has been working continuously to build resources and participate in committees that are working to bring sustainable funding to food is medicine initiatives at our foodbanks. She has also been managing projects that aim to gather data from Ohio neighbors on their access to fresh healthy food using emergency food assistance and gathering testimonies from neighbors regarding their barriers to accessing Medicaid benefits. Outside of her VISTA service, Eliza enjoys unwinding by crocheting, watching movies, and indulging in Mexican street tacos! “My favorite part about being a VISTA is the opportunity to learn from those who are leaders across the state and take on projects that not only allow me to develop my own professional skills, but also contribute to the mission of OAF and the network.” A huge thank you to Eliza for her invaluable contributions to our association and the state of Ohio as a whole! Let's continue to express our gratitude to AmeriCorps VISTAs every day, but especially during this special week! Find out how you can join in the celebration at https://lnkd.in/gHXCX2iH.