CINCINNATI — With the SNAP emergency allotment ending in March for more than 600,000 Ohioans, people are wondering how they’ll afford groceries. That’s why one organization is stepping up to help.
Wendy Schuchmann knows the struggle of food insecurity far too well. In 2013, she was diagnosed with cancer and that came with costly treatments.
“I had gotten a job making $20 a month over the max income for county benefits,” said Schuchmann. “So I had to choose between feeding my kids or treating cancer.”
After eventually losing her job, it became even more of a challenge to afford groceries. So she decided to check out a food pantry.
“The box that I took home and opened it up, it was full of random stuff, expired stuff and I cried because I didn’t know what I was supposed to feed my kids that night,” she said.
That’s what inspired her to create Food Network Angels in 2021. It’s a nonprofit that offers fresh quality meat and cheese to customers at nearly half the cost of a grocery store. They accept cash, card and EBT.
“When you’re on a budget and you have limited resources, anything that can come in and generate income, that is a win-win not only for customers like myself and the pantry itself,” said Teri Kelley. “It’s a great deal.”
Food Network Angels Customer Teri Kelley said this is beneficial for people who are on a budget or use SNAP. That’s because as of March the SNAP emergency allotment started during the pandemic will end and those extra payments will be gone. And that’s why Kelley said it’s worth getting food from this nonprofit.
“When I found out the meat that was coming in and I would take a look at and it’s high-quality meat,” she said.
Since 2021, Food Network Angels has provided nearly 50,000 servings of fresh meat to the community. And through a recent partnership, she hopes to help even more people in need.
“If someone buys a box of meat for $25, they’re going to get $25 of free fruit and vegetables from this program, Produce Perks,” said Schuchmann.
For more information about Food Network Angels, click here
