Three Ways to Help

a Neighbor in Need

As a result of recent federal legislation, refugees and documented immigrants who have been in the U.S. less than five years are losing their eligibility for SNAP benefits, a critical safety net and stepping stone towards self-sufficiency as they build new lives. With thousands in Franklin County now facing heightened food insecurity as a result of this change, join CRIS and our partners in helping to prevent our neighbors from going hungry.

Please note: There will NOT be a pantry box drop-off on Wednesday evening on November 26th or December 24th!

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    Give a Grocery Gift Card

    Donated grocery gift cards are given directly to CRIS clients through our staff. With many grocery stores offering digital gift cards, all it takes is three clicks and 30 seconds.

    Donate a Grocery Gift Card

  • Assemble a Pantry Staple Kit

    Follow the step-by-step guide to assemble a kit to give to an affected family.

    See Step by Step Guide

  • Donate to our Emergency Assistance Fund

    Both one-time and monthly gifts can go a long way in ensuring food security for families in need.

    Provide Emergency Assistance

Striving for Self-Sufficiency

  • Fadumo

    Fadumo, an Eritrean single mother who arrived in January, works full-time at a local daycare but had and lost $450 monthly food assistance benefit to feed her two young daughters. This assistance allowed her to save money for a car to pursue better, higher-paying job opportunities.

  • Maryam

    Maryam is Somali. She lived much of her life as a refugee in Eritrea.  She arrived in January with her seven kids. Her husband was on a separate case, so he has yet to travel.  She works full-time at a daycare, and with the EBT support and help from her sister, she is able to pay all of her bills. With the lost of SNAP assistance, she will be faced with the decision to buy food or pay rent. 

  • The Mohamed Family

    The Mohamed family applied for green cards years ago, but only half of them have received them due to bureaucracy and backlogs in the immigration system. Both parents work, but additional support from SNAP has been key in making sure they can feed their family each month.

Advocate for Food Justice

As an Ohio resident, your voice is needed now.

Contact your local legislators and Governor DeWine’s office today to demand they protect SNAP benefits in Ohio.

According to the One Big Beautiful Bill legislation mandating cuts to SNAP benefits, the execution of these cuts is under the interpretation of each state. Legislators in the state of Ohio can decide to interpret these SNAP cuts more narrowly, ensuring that the most vulnerable continue to receive temporary food support in order to continue steps towards self-sufficiency. As a resident of Ohio and a neighbor to people facing food insecurity, use your voice to advocate for food justice by contacting your local legislators and calling Governor Dewine’s office. Below is a sample script of a voicemail or written message you can use.

Sample Advocacy Message

"Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I am an Ohio resident. I am calling/writing to urge [Governor DeWine / Representative/Senator Last Name] to protect food security for my refugee and immigrant neighbors in Ohio.

I am calling on you to allocate the necessary state funding to cover the costs of and to fully utilize all state flexibilities to protect SNAP benefits for our most vulnerable residents. This decision is a reflection of Ohio’s values, and Ohio welcomes refugees and immigrants because they make our state great.

Please do not balance the state budget on the backs of hungry families. Thank you."