What We Do

The mission of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks is to assist Ohio's 12 Feeding America Foodbanks in providing food and other resources to people in need and to pursue areas of common interest for the benefit of people in need.

Ohio Food Purchase Program
Provides shelf stable food to Ohio's 12 Feeding America Foodbanks, which supplement the USDA's TEFAP and Commodity Supplemental Food Programs.

Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program
This statewide partnership directs surplus agricultural products from more than 100 Ohio's agricultural producers through the network of Ohio's 12 Feeding America Foodbanks, ensuring that Ohio families have a source of nutritious Ohio-grown and raised, and produced food products.

Ohio Benefit Bank
The Ohio Benefit Bank promotes economic empowerment by helping low- and moderate-income Ohioans file their tax returns for free, while simultaneously assessing their eligibility for a range of critical tax credits and work supports, such as child care, utility assistance and food assistance.

Food Assistance/SNAP Outreach
In partnership with Ohio's Foodbanks and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, OASHF launched Ohio's first statewide Food Assistance/SNAP Outreach plan, with the goal of educating and providing access to the Food Assistance/SNAP program to Ohioans in need.

Policy and Advocacy
OASHF advocates for policies that increase low-income families' access to healthy food and for changes in public policy on Federal, State and local levels that will decrease hunger in Ohio.

Education and Outreach
OASHF is committed to making everyone aware of the dynamics of poverty through education and outreach, by having staff trained and certified to conduct Poverty Simulations, as well as Bridges Out of Poverty Workshops.

National Service Programs
In partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, OASHF launched four major initiatives. These project have grown exponentially each year and include:

  • AmeriCorps*VISTA
  • AmeriCorps*VISTA Summer Associate
  • AmeriCorps*State
  • AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps)