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$50K grant aids outreach efforts of Shared Harvest

Foodbank to hire second worker to help determine who else is eligible.

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer Updated 12:52 AM Wednesday, May 13, 2009

FAIRFIELD — Shared Harvest Foodbank recently received a $50,000 grant to hire another outreach worker to help determine whether more families visiting pantries in Butler and Warren counties are eligible for federal food assistance.

The grant was awarded by the Weathering the Economic Storm Fund, a partnership of 16 funders managed by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Only 39 percent of families seeking emergency food services from Shared Harvest’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. But, Shared Harvest Executive Director Tina Osso said almost all of the people area pantries serve meet income requirements for SNAP benefits.

“Our current outreach worker, Gloria Bateman, was able to register 279 families in 2008, and that generated more than $645,000 in benefits. With a second outreach worker, we hope to enroll 600 families this year and generate $1.2 million in SNAP (food stamp) benefits,” she said.

The foodbank’s network partners report the number of families visiting food pantries rose 10 percent and the number of meals served at soup kitchens increased 47 percent in 2008, an unprecedented jump in the 25-year history of Shared Harvest.

Foodbank partners also report 25 percent of families they’re serving have never before asked for help, Osso said.

Fairfield-based Shared Harvest serves pantries and soup kitchens in Butler, Warren, Preble, Miami and Darke counties.

In addition to hiring a second outreach worker, the grant through GCF provides $15,000 for the foodbank to purchase laundry detergent, hand soap, toothpaste, dish detergent and toilet tissue.

“Many people don’t realize that the SNAP program does not allow needy families to buy these kinds of nonfood items,” Osso said. “Unfortunately, soap products and paper products often are among the most expensive purchases families make when they go to the store.”

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