As Ohio's largest charitable response to hunger, we:

• Provide food through the Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program
• Connect the people we serve to other resources through The Ohio Benefit Bank
• Support Ohio's social service sector through our national service program
• Advocate for people in need

During state fiscal year 2011, OASHF and its network of providers served more than 7.8 million Ohioans. Approximately 35 percent of those served were children (under 18), and about 14 percent were seniors (over 60).

Additionally, more than 18.3 million meals were served to Ohioans visiting shelters and soup kitchens. Read our most recent annual report to learn more about the people we served last year.

• The Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program is operated through funding from the Ohio General Assembly and the Governor, with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services serving as grant manager. Additional support for these food programs is also provided through private and corporate donations.
• Other programs at OASHF are funded through a combination of grants and donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals, in addition to major support from the State of Ohio and federal agencies including the Corporation for National and Community Service and the United States Department of Agriculture.
• For more information about the generous supporters of our programs, visit our Partners page.

Food is purchased through the Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program (OFPACP). OFPACP supplements local food purchase programs and federally funded food.

• The Ohio Food Program receives bids, awards contracts, and distributes shelf-stable foods and protein items to foodbanks for distribution to emergency food providers.
• The Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program is a collaborative initiative of OASHF, the agricultural community, and member foodbanks, providing fresh, Ohio-grown fruits and vegetables to Ohioans served through the emergency food network.

Ohio's emergency food network is comprised of foodbanks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and congregate meal sites.

• A foodbank receives, collects, and distributes food to agencies within the emergency food network.
• A food pantry distributes take-home food directly to consumers of the emergency food network. 
• Shelters house people in need. They vary from those who serve the homeless to those who help abused women and their children.
• Soup Kitchens or Meal Sites are locations that serve hot meals on-site to people in need.
• Congregate or Residential Meal Sites are sites designated to serve a specific population, like a senior center or an afterschool program.

The Ohio Benefit Bank is an online service that connects Ohioans with applications for over 20 work support programs, as well as free tax filing.

There are many ways in which an individual, group or organization can get involved in our mission:

• Host a poverty simulation
• Volunteer with The Ohio Benefit Bank
• Sign up for alerts and newsletters
• Connect with or volunteer at your local foodbank
• Donate today