Become a FAN!

Mid-Ohio Foodbank's vision is to build & sustain a community that makes food accessible to all people. To get there, we need your help! As the largest source of food for hunger relief organizations in central and eastern Ohio, the Foodbank is working hard to engage public policy decision-makers and constituents alike in the hunger conversation. The Foodbank Advocacy Network (FAN) is essential in helping the Foodbank to advance its mission to ensure that no one goes hungry. It’s only by working together that we can impact public policy decisions and create positive change for those in our community who are hungry.

As a FAN stakeholder, we will inform you about issues and actions that deserve our urgent attention. Please accept our invitation to write a letter, send an email, make a phone call, attend an event, tweet a comment or donate your Facebook status to influence legislation that aims to alleviate hunger. Sign up today for our Advocacy Alerts and Calls2Action!

Other ways to fight hunger include partnering with our national organization, Feeding America, through their Hunger Action Center. And, you can always help by calling or emailing your Congressional and/or State Representative or Senator today, using the guide at the bottom of the page.

Questions? Email us at advocacy@midohiofoodbank.org. And Thanks!

Will you show your support by endorsing this request?

The Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program (OFPACP) makes fresh fruits and vegetables, protein items, and shelf-stable foods available to Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks, thanks to support from the State of Ohio. OFPACP directs surplus agricultural products from Ohio farmers, growers, and producers to hungry people and keeps foodbank shelves stocked. It is recognized as one of the state’s most successful public-private partnerships. In State Fiscal Year 2012, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks received $12.5 million from the state of Ohio to support OFPACP. The Mid-Ohio Foodbank alone received 9,233,750 pounds of food from OFPACP in SFY. Due to the success of the program and an increase in need, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks is requesting $34 million ($17 million each year) for the 2014-2015 biennial budget.

Please endorse this request here. Also, take a look at Our Local Growers, Farmers and Producers that participate in OFPACP (by County).

Host a volunteer from Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s Speakers Bureau

Foodbank staff and volunteers are available to attend events, meetings or gatherings and speak about the work of Mid-Ohio Foodbank and what it is doing to ensure that no one goes hungry. The Foodbank can also share several educational videos (visit our YouTube page to see more). To arrange for a speaker, or learn more about incorporating the Foodbank into your event, contact Colin Baumgartner at 614-317-9412 or cbaumgartner@midohiofoodbank.org.

Unique Group Experience: The Poverty Simulation

The Poverty Simulation is a unique, interactive experience for large groups (44 to 80) that helps individuals begin to understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. It moves people to think about the harsh realities of poverty and to talk about how communities can address the problem collectively. Most importantly, it encourages people to make a difference. To learn more about how your group can schedule a simulation and/or make it part of your visit to the Foodbank, contact Heather Buchmann at 614-317-9453 or hbuchmann@midohiofoodbank.org.

Stake your claim

In order to see real progress in the fight against hunger, we need the people in power on our side. We urge you to contact your elected officials today to
express your concern about hunger in your community—and foster the
political will to end it.

Ohio Senators

Senator Sherrod Brown
713 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2315
Fax: 202-228-6321
E-mail via website: http://brown.senate.gov/

Senator Rob Portman
338 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3353
Fax: 202-228-1382
E-mail via website: http://portman.senate.gov/

Ohio members of the U.S. House of Representatives in our service area

7th Congressional district
Clark, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Franklin, Fairfield, and Perry counties

Rep. Steve Austria
439 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-4324
Fax: 202-225-1984
Email via: http://austria.house.gov/

4th Congressional district
Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Hancock, Hardin, Login, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Shelby, and Wyandot counties

Rep. Jim Jordan

1524 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone:  202-225-2676
Fax:  202-226-0577
E-mail via: http://jordan.house.gov/

15th Congressional district
Western part of Franklin County, Madison County, and Union County

Rep. Steve Stivers
1007 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2015
Fax: 202-225-3529
E-mail via: http://stivers.house.gov/

18th Congressional district
Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Ross, Tuscarawas, and Vinton counties

Rep. Bob Gibbs
329 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6265
Fax: 202-225-3394
Email via: http://gibbs.house.gov/

12th Congressional district
Parts of Franklin and Licking counties; all of Delaware County

Rep. Pat Tiberi
106 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone:  202-225-5355
Fax: 202-226-4523
E-mail via: http://tiberi.house.gov

6th Congressional district
Mahoning County, Columbiana County, Jefferson County, Belmont County, Monroe County, Noble County, Washington County, Athens County, Meigs County, Gallia County, Lawrence County and Scioto County

Rep. Bill Johnson
317 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone:202-225-5705
Fax: 202-225-5907
E-mail via website: http://billjohnson.house.gov/

Ohio State Officials

Gov. John Kasich
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone: 614-466-3555
Fax: 614-466-9354
E-mail via: http://governor.ohio.gov/

Ohio House Representatives

21st district
Franklin County

Rep. Mike Duffey
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6030

94th district
Coshocton and Muskingum counties

Rep. Brian Hill
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6014

83rd district
Logan, Union, and Marion counties

Rep. Dorothy Pelanda
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8147

22nd district
Franklin County

Rep. John Patrick Carney
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-2473

24th district
Franklin County

Rep. Ted Celeste
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6005

90th district
Richland, Morrow, and Knox counties

Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-1431

91st district
Licking, Perry, and Hocking counties

Rep. Bill Hayes
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-2500

95th district
Jefferson and Belmont counties

Rep. Jack Cera
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3735

87th district
Ross, Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, and Lawrence counties

Rep. Ryan Smith
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-1366

20th district
Franklin County

Rep. Nancy Garland
77 S. High St
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6002

93rd district
Muskingum, Guernsey, Noble, Monroe, and Washington counties

Rep. Andy Thompson
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-8728

23rd district
Franklin County

Rep. Cheryl Grossman
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-9690 or 614-466-9409

19th district
Franklin County

Rep. Anne Gonzales
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-4847

26th district
Franklin County

Rep. Tracy Heard
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8010

71st district
Licking County

Rep. Jay Hottinger
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-1482

2nd district
Delaware County

Rep. Andrew Brenner
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6711

82nd district
Wyandot, Crawford, and Marion counties

Rep. Jeffrey McClain
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-6265

85th district
Fayette, Pickaway, and Ross counties

Rep. Gary Scherer
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-644-7928

96th district
Tuscawarus, Harrison, and Belmont counties

Rep. Al Landis
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8035

5th district
Fairfield County

Rep. Gerald Stebelton
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8100

25th district
Franklin County

Rep. Michael Stinziano
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-1896

27th district
Franklin County

Rep. Kevin Boyce
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-5343

84th district
Madison, parts of Clark and Greene

Rep. Bob Hackett
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-1470
 

Ohio State Senators

17th district
Pickaway, Fayette, Clinton, Highland, Ross, Pike, Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, and Lawrence counties

Senator Bob Peterson
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8156

26th district
Ottawa, Sandusky, Senaca, Wyandot, Marion, Logan, Union, and Crawford counties

Senator Dave Burke
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8049

3rd district
Franklin County

Senator Kevin Bacon
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8064

19th district
Delaware, Morrow, Knox, Richland, and Ashland counties

Senator Kris Jordan
Statehouse
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8086

16th district
Franklin County

Senator Jim Hughes
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-5981

15th district
Franklin County

Senator Charleta Tavares
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-5131

31st district
Pickaway, Fairfield, Licking, Perry, and Hocking counties

Senator Tim Schaffer
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-5838

20th district
Coshocton, Muskingum, Guernsey, Noble, Monroe, Morgan, Washington, Athens, and Meigs counties

Senator Troy Balderson
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-8076

10th district
Clark, Greene, and Madison Counties

Senator Chris Widener
Senate Building
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3780