Just a Bite

September is Hunger Action Month – a month to drive awareness about and encourage supporters to take action against hunger. But why do we need a #HungerActionMonth? And what can each of us do to be a meaningful part of efforts to end hunger? Your Just a Bite co-host, Joree, brings you this thought-provoking oral essay to give listeners something to chew on as we kick off this month of awareness and action.  

References:   

Wear orange on Hunger Action Day, September 23rd, and tag us @Ohiofoodbanks.  

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.     

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!      

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!     

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.    

 Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.  

Classes are back in session, and we are kicking off fall semester with a discussion with the Food Research & Action Center’s SNAP Deputy Director, Andrew Cheyne. We talk about the temporary expansion of SNAP eligibility for college students, and how we can work to permanently expand access to SNAP and better meet the needs of current college students.  

References:  

Do you think you may be eligible for SNAP? You can connect to resources HERE.  

Follow FRAC on their website, on their blog, through their email newsletter, on Twitter @fractweets and their Facebook page. Follow Andrew on his Twitter @cheyne_andrew. 

Learn more about the bills FRAC is supporting, including the EATS Act.  

U.S. Government Accountability Office Report on “Food Insecurity: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits” 

“Connecting Community College Students to SNAP,” report by Ashley Burnside and Parker Gilkesson of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Patricia Baker of Mass Law Reform Institute (MLRI) 

“Need to address college student hunger gains well-deserved attention and momentum”, by Hope Lane-Gavin, the Center for Community Solutions 

The Hope Center on College, Community and Justice’s Report: #RealCollege During the Pandemic 

The Hope Center’s Review of state action on the expanded SNAP eligibility for college students: Best Kept Secrets: The Federal Government Expanded SNAP Eligibility for College Students, But Many Never Heard About It 

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.    

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!     

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!    

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.   

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need. 

Your Just a Bite host, Joree, reflects on and provides context to the induction of Ohio Association of Foodbanks’ executive director, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt to the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame. Lisa was recognized and celebrated this month for her contributions to both Ohio’s agricultural sector and food insecure Ohioans. Lisa is a fierce, compassionate leader and advocate for Ohioans facing food insecurity and poverty. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is proud to call her our leader and executive director and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor! Listen to learn more about Lisa and her steadfast commitment to food insecure Ohioans and Ohio agriculture.  

References:  

You can find more information about the Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program, our current request for American Rescue Plan Act funds, and other efforts on OAF’s website and Twitter.  

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.    

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!     

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!    

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.   

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.   

Your Just a Bite host, Sarah, is joined by Kimmy LoVano, Director of Advocacy & Public Education at the Greater Cleveland Foodbank, and Tim White, Advocacy Manager at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, to talk more about their roles at their respective organizations. Kimmy and Tim talk about why non-profit advocacy is so important, how they have overcome challenges, and what advice they would give to those who want to get involved. Tune into this episode to learn and get inspired from two amazing advocates! 

References:  

“Second Harvest warns food for hungry might soon be rationed as donations plummet,” by Michael Fitzpatrick, The Morning Journal 

Sign our petition supporting our statewide ARPA funding request here and find other advocacy actions here. 

Learn more about Mid-Ohio Food Collective on their website and on Twitter @mofcollective.  

Learn more about Greater Cleveland Foodbank on their website and on Twitter @CleFoodbank.   

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.    

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!     

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!    

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.   

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need. 

This week, we’re going beyond the buzzwords we’re all hearing to better understand what’s truly going on economically, what’s behind the inflationary pinch we’re all feeling, and what public policy levers must be pulled to protect household stability and meet basic needs for every household. We’re joined by Guillermo Bervejillo, State Policy Fellow for Policy Matters Ohio. With a Ph.D. in economic geography and bachelor’s in economics from The Ohio State University as well as a master’s in geography from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Guille brings an incredible wealth of expertise to this conversation and peels back the layers to reveal what’s beneath the economic rhetoric.

References:

Visit Policy Matters Ohio online, take a look at Guille’s past research and testimony here, and follow Policy Matters Ohio on Twitter and Facebook

View Guille’s recent appearance on The State of Ohio, a service of Ohio’s public broadcasting stations.

Investors buy nearly one of out for Columbus-area homes in first quarter of 2022, The Columbus Dispatch, July 5, 2022

Corporate profits have contributed disproportionately to inflation. How should policymakers respond? Economic Policy Institute, April 21, 2022

Credit card balances spike to $841 billion after stimulus checks helped reduce debt, CNBC, June 9, 2022

Companies use inflation to hike prices and generate huge profits, report says, CBS News, May 27, 2022

Corporations are bragging about inflation price-gouging, Patriotic Millionaires Blog, May 6, 2022

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!  

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions! 

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.  

Today, we’re taking a bit of a trip down memory lane to reflect on where we are, one year since the Ohio National Guard soldiers and airmen that were deployed at Ohio foodbanks during the height of the pandemic were decommissioned and Operation Steady Resolve ended.

References:

Reflections from Dan Flowers, President & CEO, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, and Lee Truesdale, Chief Development Officer, The Foodbank, Inc. 

Archives of Facebook Live Briefings with Adjutant General M.G. John C. Harris, Jr. and Joree Novotny, Director of External Affairs, Ohio Association of Foodbanks: April 2020 and June 2020

Ohio National Guard soldiers reflect on service at Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank discusses Ohio National Guard response at foodbanks

Volunteer at your local foodbank or food pantry: How to Help

Now that school is out for many Ohio children, we passed the mic to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks’ Director of Grocery Procurement and Child Nutrition Initiatives, Carol Whitmer, to talk about the programs that provide free meals for kids during the summer months. She speaks with Shane Hoffman of Team Vittles and Diana Davet of the Greater Cleveland Foodbank to examine the ways that summer meal programs are working for Ohio children and the ways they are not. These anti-hunger advocates speak about what they would change to make sure that no Ohio children go hungry.  

References: 

Find your local summer meal site on the Ohio Department of Education website here. You can also call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479) or text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 304-304 to find a site near you or get more information.  

“Nearly half of families with kids can no longer afford enough food 5 months after child tax credit ended,” by Carmen Reinicke, CNBC  

Learn more about Team Vittles on their website, on Twitter @TeamVittlesOH, and on their podcast, Join the Food Fight.  

Learn more about Greater Cleveland Foodbank and their summer food programs on their website and on Twitter @CleFoodbank.  

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.   

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!    

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!   

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.  

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.

Nonprofit organizations have played an outsized role in responding to the pandemic, from leading the public health response to supporting families as they navigate the economic fallout from the public health crisis. Yet many health and human services organizations are facing a compounding crisis as they struggle to respond to sustained demand for their services without the funding and flexibility they need. In this episode, we talk with Michael Corey, executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, about the state of the human services sector nearly two and a half years after the pandemic began. 

References: 

Sign this online petition that includes a request for $100 million in ARPA funding for direct service nonprofits. 

Visit the Human Service Chamber (HSC) of Franklin County’s community calendar for upcoming events where you can get involved and give back to central Ohio nonprofits. Looking for a nonprofit position in central Ohio? Visit the HSC of Franklin County's job board. 

Buy a We Can Do This! t-shirt from Homage, proceeds benefit HSC of Franklin County. 

Follow the HSC of Franklin County on Twitter @OneVoiceHSC 

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.   

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!    

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!   

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat.  

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we talk to Center for Community Solutions Fellow Hope Lane-Gavin about the maternal and infant health issues at the front and center of today’s public policy debates. How does food insecurity disproportionately impact pregnant women, moms, and children, especially for Black and Hispanic women? How can targeted public benefit programs, like WIC, improve maternal and infant nutrition and food security, and how is Ohio doing on that front? And what should we do as anti-poverty advocates to engender change? 

References:  

Read Hope’s recent blog post, Lessons of Two Years of COVID-19: Impacts of an Offline System for WIC Beneficiaries in Ohio, the first in a series highlighting joint research with Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio. 

Learn more about other recent public policy work in Ohio related to maternal and infant health in The Center for Community Solutions State Budgeting Matters maternal and infant health issue. 

Vice President Kamala Harris Remarks on Improving Maternal Health 

Follow The Center for Community Solutions @CommunitySols 

More reading about the disproportionate impact of the pandemic-driven recession on Black and Hispanic parents and families, which exacerbated longstanding disparities: 

From the Urban Institute: Forty Percent of Black and Hispanic Parents of School-Age Children Are Food Insecure 

From Feeding America: Black communities face unique challenges that result in greater likelihood of facing hunger during the pandemic 

From FRAC: The Impact of Food Insecurity on Women’s Health 

Find your local foodbank to find help, volunteer, and donate here.  

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a review and subscribe to get episodes in your podcast feed as soon as we upload every other week!   

Want more updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and take our latest hunger-fighting actions!  

We are licensed to use the song, Goals and Dreams by Boomer, which is distributed and owned by PremiumBeat. 

Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization without party affiliation or bias. We are Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger and our mission is to assist Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.