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OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2014

MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR OHIO CHILDREN LIVE AT RISK OF HUNGER

Food insecurity rates in Ohio remain higher than national average; food costs on the rise

COLUMBUS – Ohioans living in food secure households—households where members have consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food—spent an average of $2.50 per meal in 2012. That’s up

from $2.41 per meal just a year before, and that increase in the cost of food means that the ‘meal gap’

in Ohio is on the rise.

Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2014 report shows that more than 671,000 Ohio children—or

more than one in four (25.2 percent)—live in food insecure households, meaning they don’t always

know where their next meal will come from. Overall, nearly 2 million Ohioans—more than one in six

(17.2 percent)—are food insecure.

The Map the Meal Gap report shows that nearly half (46.3 percent) of food insecure households in Ohio

have incomes that are too high for them to qualify for SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps or

food assistance). For those households, Ohio’s foodbank network is the only safety net available.

“Food costs are rising rapidly at a time when families are living on the brink of poverty, desperately

working to pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director

of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “Our foodbanks continue to see record-high demand for help

with food, while at the same time our federal nutrition programs are under attack.”

Some factors contributing to increased demand for help with food include:

SNAP benefits were reduced across-the-board in late 2013 by an average of $36 per month for a family of four, bringing the average benefit to less than $1.40 per person, per meal.

Many working Ohioans are earning wages that are too high for them to receive SNAP benefits, but that are still below the self-sufficiency level.

A strict three-month time limit was imposed on SNAP benefits for unemployed adults without dependents, meaning that those without at least 20 hours of paid employment per week have

lost their last line of defense against hunger.

“People are making choices every day between affording food and affording housing, medicine and

medical care, transportation to work and other household expenses,” said Hamler-Fugitt. “They are

sacrificing nutritious food to pay the bills, and we are all paying for it in the long run.”

The 2014 Map the Meal Gap report demonstrates that the ‘meal gap’ is widening for food insecure

households in Ohio, meaning they have fewer resources to spend and the cost of food is on the rise.

Studies indicate that food insecurity in children can lead to higher rates of illness, anxiety, depression,

developmental risk and chronic health conditions, lower achievement in math and reading and greater

likelihood of repeating a grade in school. Another report found that food insecurity increased the

likelihood of a variety of chronic health conditions and led to reduced educational achievements and

worker productivity.

http://www.feedingamerica.org/mapthegaphttp://www.ers.usda.gov/ersDownloadHandler.ashx?file=/media/1120651/eib-113.pdfhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/10/pdf/hunger_paper.pdf

“It’s time that our public policies invest in nutritious food and livable wages for all Ohioans,” said

Hamler-Fugitt. “We can’t afford the consequences if we don’t act now.”

To learn more, view Map the Meal Gap data for the overall population in Ohio by county or

congressional district, and view Map the Meal Gap data for children in Ohio by county or congressional

district.

### About the Ohio Association of Foodbanks

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger, representing Ohio’s 12 Feeding America

foodbanks and 3,300 member charities including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In SFY 2013, the association

and its member foodbanks were able to acquire and distribute over 173 million pounds of food and grocery items. The

association also serves as the home of The Ohio Benefit Bank and operates the state’s largest navigator program for the

Affordable Care Act. Follow the association on Twitter, stay connected on Facebook and visit them on the web at

www.ohiofoodbanks.org.

Contact: Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Executive Director for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks at 614-271-4803 (cell),

[email protected] –or– Joree Jacobs, Director of Communications and Grants Management for the

Ohio Association of Foodbanks at 614-221-4336 ext. 265, [email protected]

http://ohiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/MMG2014/Statewide_Overall_County_2012.pdfhttp://ohiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/MMG2014/Statewide_Overall_Congressional_2012.pdfhttp://ohiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/MMG2014/Statewide_Child_County_2012.pdfhttp://ohiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/MMG2014/Statewide_Child_Congressional_2012.pdfhttp://ohiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/MMG2014/Statewide_Child_Congressional_2012.pdfhttp://www.twitter.com/ohiofoodbankshttp://www.facebook.com/OASHFhttp://www.ohiofoodbanks.org/

Map the Meal Gap 2014 Ohio Food Insecurity by County in 2012 1

% below SNAP

threshold of 130%

poverty

% between 130%

and 185% poverty

% above Nutrition

Pgm threshold of

185% poverty

Adams 28,524 17.8% 5,080 75% 10% 15%

Allen 106,079 16.8% 17,860 57% 13% 30%

Ashland 53,203 14.4% 7,670 59% 15% 25%

Ashtabula 101,262 16.1% 16,300 63% 14% 24%

Athens 64,592 19.9% 12,870 70% 5% 24%

Auglaize 45,934 11.7% 5,370 44% 20% 36%

Belmont 70,182 14.6% 10,250 53% 16% 31%

Brown 44,666 14.2% 6,360 56% 19% 26%

Butler 368,029 14.5% 53,190 50% 11% 39%

Carroll 28,828 14.0% 4,020 58% 19% 23%

Champaign 39,982 14.2% 5,660 54% 12% 34%

Clark 138,278 16.2% 22,360 58% 16% 25%

Clermont 197,543 12.7% 25,060 45% 11% 44%

Clinton 42,161 16.7% 7,030 53% 17% 30%

Columbiana 107,598 15.2% 16,340 58% 15% 28%

Coshocton 36,880 16.1% 5,920 61% 15% 24%

Crawford 43,623 15.3% 6,700 58% 17% 26%

Cuyahoga 1,278,024 18.7% 238,530 52% 15% 33%

Darke 52,776 13.2% 6,980 53% 21% 26%

Defiance 38,975 13.5% 5,270 55% 18% 27%

Delaware 174,454 9.4% 16,450 27% 11% 63%

Erie 76,952 14.9% 11,500 48% 14% 38%

Fairfield 146,138 13.3% 19,420 46% 12% 42%

Fayette 28,931 16.6% 4,790 64% 14% 23%

Franklin 1,167,484 17.7% 207,210 54% 13% 33%

Fulton 42,635 12.3% 5,240 48% 15% 37%

Gallia 30,877 16.2% 5,010 65% 15% 20%

Geauga 93,485 10.6% 9,910 42% 14% 44%

Greene 161,936 14.8% 23,920 45% 9% 46%

Guernsey 40,056 15.8% 6,340 63% 15% 22%

Hamilton 801,350 18.2% 145,630 51% 12% 37%

Hancock 75,043 13.5% 10,170 53% 12% 35%

Hardin 31,986 15.5% 4,960 62% 12% 27%

Harrison 15,818 15.5% 2,450 62% 16% 22%

Henry 28,246 13.1% 3,700 51% 14% 34%

Highland 43,454 16.5% 7,170 65% 21% 14%

Hocking 29,372 14.8% 4,350 61% 13% 25%

Holmes 42,501 12.9% 5,460 67% 27% 6%

Huron 59,628 15.4% 9,200 56% 12% 31%

Jackson 33,134 18.1% 5,990 75% 13% 12%

Jefferson 69,343 16.8% 11,650 56% 14% 31%

Knox 60,791 14.0% 8,500 55% 12% 34%

Lake 229,873 12.4% 28,570 41% 14% 46%

Lawrence 62,441 14.9% 9,280 62% 16% 22%

Licking 166,135 13.5% 22,480 48% 13% 39%

Logan 45,816 14.2% 6,520 60% 14% 27%

Lorain 301,108 14.7% 44,180 51% 11% 38%

Income within the food insecure population2

County Population

Food

insecurity

rate

Estimated number

food insecure

individuals (rounded)

% below SNAP

threshold of 130%

poverty

% between 130%

and 185% poverty

% above Nutrition

Pgm threshold of

185% poverty


County Population

Food

insecurity

rate

Estimated number

food insecure

individuals (rounded)

Lucas 441,198 18.4% 81,070 60% 13% 27%

Madison 43,213 13.8% 5,980 40% 14% 46%

Mahoning 238,352 16.6% 39,670 56% 16% 29%

Marion 66,514 16.4% 10,900 60% 12% 29%

Medina 172,334 11.1% 19,050 37% 11% 52%

Meigs 23,664 17.4% 4,130 67% 15% 18%

Mercer 40,866 10.6% 4,350 42% 17% 42%

Miami 102,657 13.9% 14,240 49% 13% 38%

Monroe 14,679 15.1% 2,220 58% 15% 27%

Montgomery 535,626 18.0% 96,270 52% 16% 32%

Morgan 15,042 17.0% 2,550 59% 19% 22%

Morrow 34,895 13.0% 4,540 52% 18% 31%

Muskingum 85,996 17.0% 14,660 58% 21% 21%

Noble 14,643 15.8% 2,310 45% 21% 34%

Ottawa 41,445 13.4% 5,570 40% 14% 47%

Paulding 19,522 13.1% 2,560 58% 17% 25%

Perry 36,086 16.1% 5,820 62% 14% 24%

Pickaway 55,795 14.1% 7,890 46% 12% 42%

Pike 28,652 18.8% 5,370 72% 11% 17%

Portage 161,178 14.7% 23,710 53% 10% 37%

Preble 42,240 13.1% 5,510 50% 21% 29%

Putnam 34,445 10.5% 3,600 39% 12% 49%

Richland 124,286 16.1% 19,960 51% 16% 34%

Ross 77,741 16.1% 12,530 58% 14% 29%

Sandusky 60,842 13.5% 8,240 60% 12% 28%

Scioto 79,122 18.4% 14,580 69% 13% 18%

Seneca 56,630 14.6% 8,240 55% 16% 30%

Shelby 49,359 13.3% 6,570 50% 17% 33%

Stark 375,593 15.3% 57,410 53% 15% 33%

Summit 541,788 15.8% 85,570 50% 13% 37%

Trumbull 209,942 15.9% 33,460 57% 15% 28%

Tuscarawas 92,532 13.8% 12,790 57% 16% 28%

Union 52,153 11.3% 5,920 37% 12% 51%

Van Wert 28,808 12.6% 3,630 48% 21% 31%

Vinton 13,397 17.2% 2,300 73% 21% 6%

Warren 213,146 11.2% 23,940 31% 10% 58%

Washington 61,751 14.0% 8,620 60% 14% 26%

Wayne 114,644 13.0% 14,900 53% 19% 27%

Williams 37,779 14.0% 5,280 57% 20% 24%

Wood 126,254 14.1% 17,830 50% 9% 41%

Wyandot 22,626 13.3% 3,000 40% 19% 41%

State Total6 11,544,225 17.2% 1,982,170 53.6% 14.1% 32.2%

2Numbers reflect percentage of food insecure individuals living in households with incomes within the income bands indicated. Eligibility for

federal nutrition programs is determined in part by these income thresholds which can vary by state.

For additional data and maps by county, state, and congressional district, please visit www.feedingamerica.org/mapthegap .

Gundersen, C., E. Engelhard, A. Satoh, & E. Waxman. Map the Meal Gap 2014: Food Insecurity and Child Food Insecurity Estimates at the County

Level. Feeding America, 2014. This research is generously supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and The Nielsen Company.

1Map the Meal Gap's food insecurity rates are determined using data from the 2002-2012 Current Population Survey on individuals in food

insecure households; data from the 2012 American Community Survey on median household incomes, poverty rates, homeownership, and race

and ethnic demographics; and 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on unemployment rates.

Map the Meal Gap 2014 Ohio Food Insecurity by Congressional District in 2012 1

% below SNAP threshold

of 130% poverty

% between 130%

and 185%

poverty

% above Nutrition Pgm

threshold of 185% poverty

11 698,259 29.0% 202,170 60% 18% 22%

3 733,584 23.3% 170,640 61% 17% 21%

9 709,603 21.1% 149,680 62% 14% 24%

10 721,777 19.1% 137,670 54% 15% 31%

13 716,143 19.0% 136,150 57% 15% 28%

1 731,181 18.9% 137,880 51% 10% 39%

2 713,709 17.0% 121,290 54% 14% 33%

6 716,828 15.7% 112,290 57% 14% 29%

8 724,285 15.7% 113,970 50% 14% 37%

4 718,059 15.0% 107,460 54% 13% 33%

15 726,053 14.8% 107,730 51% 11% 38%

7 726,927 14.5% 105,040 51% 15% 33%

5 726,090 14.4% 104,530 51% 12% 37%

12 738,859 13.1% 97,010 44% 11% 46%

14 720,576 12.8% 92,280 46% 10% 45%

16 722,292 12.0% 86,380 38% 17% 45%

Congressional

DistrictPopulation

Food insecurity

rate

Estimated number food

insecure individuals

(rounded)


1Map the Meal Gap's food insecurity rates are determined using data from the 2002-2012 Current Population Survey on individuals in food insecure

households; and data from the 2012 American Community Survey on median household incomes, unemployment rates, poverty rates, homeownership, and

race and ethnic demographics.

2Numbers reflect percentage of food insecure individuals living in households with incomes within the income bands indicated. Eligibility for federal

nutrition programs is determined in part by these income thresholds which can vary by state.


Gundersen, C., E. Engelhard, A. Satoh, & E. Waxman. Map the Meal Gap 2014: Food Insecurity and Child Food Insecurity Estimates at the County Level.

Feeding America, 2014. This research is generously supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and The Nielsen Company.

Map the Meal Gap 2014 Ohio Child Food Insecurity by County in 2012 1

County

Food insecurity

rate (full

population)

Population

under 18

years old

Child food

insecurity rate

Estimated number

food insecure children

(rounded)

Food insecure children likely

income-eligible for federal

nutrition assistance2


NOT income-eligible for

federal nutrition assistance2

Adams 17.8% 7,119 29.7% 2,120 82% 18%

Allen 16.8% 25,370 26.2% 6,660 72% 28%

Ashland 14.4% 12,542 27.3% 3,430 82% 18%

Ashtabula 16.1% 23,838 26.7% 6,360 77% 23%

Athens 19.9% 10,273 27.9% 2,860 74% 26%

Auglaize 11.7% 11,542 20.5% 2,370 72% 28%

Belmont 14.6% 13,634 25.3% 3,450 68% 32%

Brown 14.2% 11,020 24.5% 2,700 74% 26%

Butler 14.5% 92,160 22.3% 20,590 60% 40%

Carroll 14.0% 6,485 25.7% 1,670 84% 17%

Champaign 14.2% 9,949 26.0% 2,580 70% 30%

Clark 16.2% 32,591 26.1% 8,510 76% 25%

Clermont 12.7% 50,467 21.7% 10,960 55% 45%

Clinton 16.7% 10,416 26.9% 2,800 74% 26%

Columbiana 15.2% 23,429 26.4% 6,190 73% 27%

Coshocton 16.1% 8,870 28.2% 2,500 82% 18%

Crawford 15.3% 10,045 27.5% 2,770 77% 23%

Cuyahoga 18.7% 289,002 22.4% 64,800 64% 36%

Darke 13.2% 13,077 22.8% 2,980 73% 27%

Defiance 13.5% 9,473 25.0% 2,370 76% 24%

Delaware 9.4% 50,049 16.5% 8,250 33% 67%

Erie 14.9% 16,988 22.9% 3,890 61% 39%

Fairfield 13.3% 38,005 21.6% 8,220 58% 43%

Fayette 16.6% 7,125 27.4% 1,950 72% 28%

Franklin 17.7% 279,400 22.3% 62,370 63% 37%

Fulton 12.3% 10,880 22.3% 2,430 71% 29%

Gallia 16.2% 7,409 26.9% 1,990 78% 22%

Geauga 10.6% 23,958 20.2% 4,840 61% 39%

Greene 14.8% 34,810 22.9% 7,990 59% 41%

Guernsey 15.8% 9,478 28.5% 2,700 76% 24%

Hamilton 18.2% 189,197 22.3% 42,280 61% 39%

Hancock 13.5% 17,559 23.0% 4,040 64% 36%

Hardin 15.5% 7,518 25.6% 1,930 72% 28%

Harrison 15.5% 3,499 28.2% 990 70% 30%

Henry 13.1% 7,052 23.5% 1,660 70% 30%

Highland 16.5% 10,941 27.9% 3,050 86% 14%

Hocking 14.8% 6,943 26.1% 1,810 75% 25%

Holmes 12.9% 14,474 23.3% 3,380 97% 3%

Huron 15.4% 15,566 27.2% 4,230 74% 26%

Jackson 18.1% 8,126 32.4% 2,630 87% 13%

Jefferson 16.8% 13,903 28.2% 3,920 75% 25%

Knox 14.0% 14,589 25.2% 3,670 72% 28%

Lake 12.4% 50,677 21.1% 10,690 56% 44%

Lawrence 14.9% 14,635 24.6% 3,600 78% 22%

Licking 13.5% 40,849 22.7% 9,280 62% 38%

Logan 14.2% 11,558 25.8% 2,980 72% 28%

Lorain 14.7% 71,732 24.0% 17,230 65% 36%

Lucas 18.4% 105,435 25.5% 26,850 72% 28%

Madison 13.8% 9,610 21.9% 2,110 56% 44%

Mahoning 16.6% 51,213 25.0% 12,810 71% 29%

Marion 16.4% 14,612 28.6% 4,180 75% 26%

Medina 11.1% 43,399 19.5% 8,480 48% 52%

http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspxhttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspxhttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx

County

Food insecurity

rate (full

population)

Population

under 18

years old

Child food

insecurity rate

Estimated number

food insecure children

(rounded)





NOT income-eligible for

federal nutrition assistance2

Meigs 17.4% 5,350 30.5% 1,630 79% 21%

Mercer 10.6% 10,699 18.6% 1,990 53% 47%

Miami 13.9% 24,679 24.0% 5,910 62% 38%

Monroe 15.1% 3,133 28.2% 890 80% 20%

Montgomery 18.0% 122,996 23.6% 28,990 68% 32%

Morgan 17.0% 3,433 27.7% 950 73% 27%

Morrow 13.0% 8,908 25.0% 2,230 72% 28%

Muskingum 17.0% 20,566 27.9% 5,740 79% 21%

Noble 15.8% 2,791 27.1% 760 79% 21%

Ottawa 13.4% 8,523 23.9% 2,030 55% 45%

Paulding 13.1% 4,855 24.5% 1,190 77% 24%

Perry 16.1% 9,284 27.8% 2,580 74% 26%

Pickaway 14.1% 13,011 24.2% 3,150 65% 35%

Pike 18.8% 7,138 31.5% 2,250 89% 11%

Portage 14.7% 33,417 23.4% 7,830 64% 36%

Preble 13.1% 10,228 23.5% 2,410 76% 25%

Putnam 10.5% 9,099 19.7% 1,790 44% 56%

Richland 16.1% 27,827 25.3% 7,040 71% 29%

Ross 16.1% 17,393 27.8% 4,830 79% 21%

Sandusky 13.5% 14,720 23.8% 3,500 76% 24%

Scioto 18.4% 17,902 30.3% 5,420 82% 18%

Seneca 14.6% 13,270 25.4% 3,380 70% 30%

Shelby 13.3% 13,373 22.5% 3,010 71% 29%

Stark 15.3% 85,744 24.3% 20,860 70% 30%

Summit 15.8% 123,206 22.4% 27,640 64% 36%

Trumbull 15.9% 46,392 26.5% 12,290 78% 22%

Tuscarawas 13.8% 21,804 24.4% 5,320 76% 24%

Union 11.3% 14,097 19.1% 2,690 50% 50%

Van Wert 12.6% 7,137 22.7% 1,620 74% 26%

Vinton 17.2% 3,244 30.7% 1,000 95% 5%

Warren 11.2% 58,052 18.8% 10,910 38% 62%

Washington 14.0% 12,859 24.0% 3,090 75% 25%

Wayne 13.0% 29,017 22.8% 6,630 81% 19%

Williams 14.0% 8,853 24.7% 2,190 78% 22%

Wood 14.1% 27,124 21.3% 5,770 59% 41%

Wyandot 13.3% 5,463 22.1% 1,210 59% 41%

State Total3 17.2% 2,659,925 25.2% 671,090 67% 33%

2Numbers reflect percentage of food insecure children living in households with incomes above or below 185% of the federal poverty guideline for 2011.

Eligibility for federal child nutrition programs is determined in part by income thresholds which can vary by state.


1Map the Meal Gap's child food insecurity rates are determined using data from the 2002-2012 Current Population Survey on children under 18 years old

in food insecure households; data from the 2012 American Community Survey on median family incomes for households with children, child poverty rates,

home ownership, and race and ethnic demographics among children; and 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on unemployment rates.




Map the Meal Gap 2014Ohio Child Food Insecurity by Congressional District in 2012 1

Congressional

District

Food insecurity

rate (full

population)

Child food

insecurity rate

Estimated number food

insecure children

(rounded)




Food insecure children likely NOT



1 18.9% 24.5% 44,400 58% 42%

2 17.0% 25.6% 42,500 69% 31%

3 23.3% 26.9% 48,470 72% 28%

4 15.0% 24.9% 42,060 70% 30%

5 14.4% 24.1% 40,310 65% 35%

6 15.7% 26.7% 40,620 72% 28%

7 14.5% 24.2% 41,250 69% 31%

8 15.7% 25.5% 45,050 66% 34%

9 21.1% 30.7% 48,820 75% 25%

10 19.1% 26.6% 42,730 74% 26%

11 29.0% 29.1% 46,540 70% 30%

12 13.1% 21.7% 38,540 53% 47%

13 19.0% 29.4% 43,240 75% 25%

14 12.8% 21.2% 34,830 59% 42%

15 14.8% 24.0% 40,300 64% 36%

16 12.0% 19.6% 31,450 58% 42%

2Numbers reflect percentage of food insecure children living in households with incomes above or below 185% of the federal poverty guideline for 2012.

Eligibility for federal child nutrition programs is determined in part by income thresholds which can vary by state.




1Map the Meal Gap's child food insecurity rates are determined using data from the 2012 Current Population Survey on children under 18 years old in food

insecure households; data from the 2012 American Community Survey on median family incomes for households with children, child poverty rates, home

ownership, and race and ethnic demographics among children; and 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on unemployment rates.

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