COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — As national lawmakers debate significant cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), local food pantries are bracing for the potential impact.
Kathy Kelly-Long, director of the Broad Street Food Pantry, expressed deep concern over the proposed $200 billion cuts to SNAP benefits by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.
Kelly-Long said the number of families served by her pantry has skyrocketed from around 4,500 in 2019 to more than 18,500 in 2024. She fears further cuts could increase the need.
“Fear and uncertainty, just like nervous about the possibility, and then just trying to think ahead and imagine how we can possibly serve more people, how we can avoid turning people away,” Kelly-Long said.
The proposed cuts aim to close loopholes, restructure work requirements, and reduce payment errors, according to Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., chair of the Agriculture Committee. “An efficiently delivered benefit with a meaningful incentive to work toward independence is a win for both the taxpayers and for the SNAP recipient,” Thompson said.
Currently, one in nine Ohioans relies on SNAP benefits, according to research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Kelly-Long emphasized that those who use the program are hardworking individuals striving to provide for their families.
She refuted misconceptions about SNAP recipients not working, stating, “I think sometimes it’s easy for those of us who don’t live that life to think, oh, a little bit more will work. They can try a little bit harder. They can do this, they can do that. But so many of the people come to us are already, you know, just at breaking the point and trying to get by.”
Kelly-Long also expressed concern over potential Medicaid funding cuts, which she believes would severely impact those in need.
“When you take healthy food off of people’s tables, then you’re also increasing their health risk, and leading to, you know, more diet-related disease, more medical costs, more health care costs,” she said.
