With only days remaining until the USDA is unable to make their next Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fund payment and the federal government showing no signs of compromise, allocating specific funds, or re-opening, it is critical that we take a look at the state of food security in Ohio and more specifically here in Geauga County.
You should look to the Ohio Jobs & Family Services for the latest information as this situation develops.
The size of the problem
In the United States, approximately 41.3 million people (12.3% of the population) receive monthly benefits through SNAP. Ohio matches that number with 12.3% of our population getting benefits (approximately 1.45 million people). Geauga County has significantly fewer people on SNAP which makes sense when you consider that we have the 4th highest average income in the state. In 2023 (the last year I can find data for), Geauga had 4.4% of households on food benefits which works out to about 3,770 people or 4.0% of our population.
While 4% seems low, that is equivalent to one child in each school classroom not having enough to eat.
In Ohio, the average person on SNAP receives $186 per month in benefits. Nearly all of that money is from the federal government and managed by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture). At that level, we would need over $700,000 every month to continue paying benefits for only those in Geauga County.
What services are available to help?
The Geauga County Jobs & Family Services department manages all food support for the county and can help people register for benefits. They do also run a small food pantry for the community.
The Geauga Hunger Task Force works to coordinate local food pantries and provide outreach. They maintain a list of community food pantries that they help to support. The closest to Bainbridge is located at Chagrin Falls Park Community Center:
located at 7060 Woodland Ave., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
(440) 247-6030
Locally we are fortunate to have the Bainbridge Area Food For Friends pantry located at Centerville Mills. They have very limited hours and so you need to call them 24 hours in advance to pick up food - (440) 708-9829. Note that the address on their website still says the Town Hall, but they moved in 2024.
There are some other resources that you might be able to use:
Chagrin Falls Meals on Wheels - meals delivered during the week, you can fill in a request form on their website. They charge $6/day but will work with people who can’t afford that.
Lasagna Love - request a lasagna to be delivered, but note that it can take a while to get paired with a community provider.
Full Cart - a virtual food bank but sadly they have hit their limit and only have a waiting list
How can I help those in need?
Most of the food pantries listed in the previous section are looking for community assistance. Money is always appreciated and often is the most beneficial. Many of the pantries will post a list of specific food items that they are looking for, but the general rule is non-expired, non-perishables are best. Please contact a specific pantry to see what they need before showing up with goods.
Some locations may need volunteers to donate their time; this is typically true for larger organizations like the Cleveland Food Bank, rather than smaller ones. But again, reach out to your local pantry and see what they specifically need.
You can also reach out to your government representatives to encourage them to fund SNAP or end the shutdown. Apps like 5Calls will let you easily find the phone numbers of all of your state and federal representatives. If you call your Ohio representatives in Columbus you can urge them to support House Bill 502 which would use the state’s “rainy day” fund to pay SNAP benefits while the federal government is shut down. It has been kicked to the Agriculture committee and currently has no plans to be discussed or brought to a vote.
Lastly, we need to support our neighbors. Reach out to people, make sure they are doing ok. We are a community and we need to look out for each other - regardless of any individual’s politics. Much love to you all.
Who is eligible for SNAP?
Wow, this has been a rabbit hole that I didn’t anticipate. The federal government sets guidelines for SNAP eligibility and then the individual states have discretion as to how the various guidelines are actually implemented. To complicate matters, the recent federal spending bill (One Big Beautiful Bill; OBBB) has changed a number of SNAP eligibility-related items. At a high level there are three primary requirements: low income, low wealth, and in many cases, a work requirement.
Ohio provides an online tool to determine SNAP eligibility.
In Ohio, low income is defined as having a household gross monthly income less than or equal to 130% of the federal poverty guideline. This works out to $1,695/mo for an individual and $3,483/mo for a family of 4 as of 2025. Various adjustments are made to this threshold based on the household including elderly or disabled people. Also, Ohio has a sliding scale for households above the 130% threshold but below 200% where they can receive lower benefits.
The work requirement applies to one adult in the household depending on the age of any dependents. Prior to the OBBB, a dependent was anyone under the age of 18 but that has now changed to 14 years old. Work can mean having a job working 30 or more hours a week, taking care of a dependent less than 6 years old or disabled, participating in training programs, or taking any suitable job offered.
In Ohio, once you apply for SNAP benefits either online or by paper you will typically have your application reviewed within 30 days. There is then a phone interview process to validate information. After that you will get your SNAP card (EBT) in the mail and can begin to use it. You must reconfirm your eligibility on an annual basis.