DEAR EDITOR:

Despite action being immediately taken to provide widespread and substantial investments in the nutrition safety net, the collective response to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security was not perfect. Though, overall, it likely prevented many Ohio households from experiencing more widespread food insecurity, during the pandemic more than 555,000 Ohio households worried whether they would run out of food, money to buy food or whether they could afford to eat balanced meals in 2020.

Furthermore, findings from the USDA ERS Household Food Security in 2020 report suggest that some population subgroups were harder hit, including households with children and black households, compared to 2019.

Ultimately, it is encouraging that the recent investments made by the public, private and charitable sectors may have successfully reduced the negative impact of the pandemic and severe economic slowdown on household food security for some Ohioans. At the same time, it is discouraging that hundreds of thousands of Ohio households still worried about having enough to eat in 2020.

I urge Congress to pass federal legislation that makes permanent investments in relief programs so all Ohioans can count on basic, long-term assistance as they recover.

LISA HAMLER-FUGITT

Executive Director

Ohio Association of Foodbanks