This summer brought big challenges to food pantries across Central Ohio. In July, Mid-Ohio Food Collective received no state funding to support produce distribution. Because of this, food pantries and markets, including NNEMAP, saw their weekly produce allotments cut back.
For NNEMAP, that meant losing three pallets of produce each week, going from 13 pallets down to 10. The difference adds up quickly when we look at the numbers compared to last year:
| Month | 2024 | 2025 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 37,079 lbs | 30,959 lbs | -6,120 lbs |
| August | 39,234 lbs | 35,467 lbs | -3,767 lbs |
| September (through 9/16) | 24,406 lbs | 20,119 lbs | -4,287 lbs |
On top of the reduced deliveries, NNEMAP has not had access to Mid-Ohio’s “ShopThru” produce option since July, aside from a few days in August. In 2024, this option allowed us to pick up almost 25,000 extra pounds of produce between July and mid-September. This year, that support has not been available.
Even with these challenges, our community partners are stepping in to help. Throughout September, eight Sheetz stores in Central Ohio are hosting a food drive to benefit NNEMAP. So far, nearly 350 pounds of food have been collected, and we are partnering directly with six of the stores involved.
These donations, along with the ongoing generosity of our community, make a real difference. They help us continue to provide fresh, healthy food to the thousands of families who count on NNEMAP each month.