At the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, we had the pleasure of meeting Kitty Rolston this week, a senior who relies on the box of food she gets each month through the Commodities Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Kitty spoke to Lima news station WLIO on Tuesday about the program.
"I know it doesn't look like it's a whole whole bunch, but it gives you enough meals that I can put that (money) forth to buy my prescriptions," Rolston said, adding that without the box she would struggle to pay for insulin and might not have enough money for prescriptions she needs.
The news story focused on the local impact of proposed federal budget cuts. According to West Ohio Food Bank CEO Bambi Markham, 1,600 seniors receive a monthly box of food from the foodbank, which serves 11 counties. Proposed cuts would immediately eliminate 322 seniors from the program, which already has a long waiting list of income-eligible seniors.
To learn more about how the proposed cuts will affect food programs in Ohio, check out this report: Ohio Impact of H.R. 2112. Visit the Senior Nutrition Programs page on OASHF's website to learn more about the work Ohio's foodbanks are doing to fight senior hunger and how you can get involved.