Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Mid-Ohio Food Collective in support of its food distribution operations. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to Mid-Ohio Food Collective to support these efforts as need has greatly increased across its service area. Mid-Ohio Food Collective does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
As the federal shutdown continues through October and likely into November, the need for food only increases. Funding from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) is particularly at risk, as are the thousands of families in the Central Ohio region that depend on it. As of last month, there were over 170,000 SNAP recipients in Franklin County alone, making use of $31 million in benefits. If this funding is not received, the need at our City and state's food banks will increase exponentially. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective is a non-profit organization that services twenty counties in Ohio, and is the largest food bank in the state. Its mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co-creating communities where everyone thrives. Columbus City Council is providing $25,000.00 in additional funding for Mid-Ohio Food Collective for its food distribution operations, which may be expended on food and non-alcoholic beverages, to assist those in need now and through the holiday season.
FISCAL IMPACT: $25,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for Mid-Ohio Food Collective to immediately address the food distribution need exacerbated by the federal shutdown.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank dba Mid-Ohio Food Collective in support of its food distribution operati...
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