COVID-19 Update: TANF Funding To Ohio Foodbanks
April 13, 2020
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today, Lt. Governor Husted highlighted an executive order, signed by Governor DeWine on Friday, that provides nearly $5 million in emergency funding from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant to support Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks and the statewide hunger relief network.
According to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, the funding will be used to purchase available items such as canned fruits and vegetables; canned meats; cereals, pastas and rice; boxed dinners; locally grown produce; locally produced milk, butter, cheese and dairy products through partnerships with the Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Dairy Farmers of America – Mideast Area and the National Farmers Organization; fresh meat and eggs; and essential household cleaning and personal hygiene items.
Of this funding, $1 million is earmarked for the Agricultural Clearance Program, where the Ohio Association of Food banks will purchase Ohio-made commodities, such as milk, to distribute to foodbanks across the state.
An additional $1 million has been granted to the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio to help Ohio’s homeless shelters purchase needed cleaning supplies and provide homelessness prevention and housing services.
CURRENT OHIO DATA:
There are 6,975 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 274 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 2,033 people have been hospitalized, including 613 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language closed captioning, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page.
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH