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Central Ohio nonprofit groups are scrambling to prepare, in case federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, runs out this weekend.

Around 1.4 million Ohio residents receive a total of $264 million in SNAP benefits every month. That breaks down to a monthly average of $190 in SNAP benefits per person.

1.4 million Ohioans currently rely on SNAP or food stamps.

The grants come as federal food benefits are set to end Saturday because of the government shutdown. The Columbus Foundation's president and CEO said pantries needed help before the shutdown.

Broad Street Presbyterian Food Pantry Director Kathy Kelly-Long believes need will increase if the program is cut back, and she said food pantries can't keep up.

The Mid-Ohio Food Collective was joined in a press conference by food pantries from across the state to oppose permanent cuts to SNAP in the proposed federal budget.

Republican Senators pulled back on a proposal to expand work and training requirements for Ohioans in the SNAP program, but added on a new requirement that critics say is costly, unneeded and could cause problems.

Critics of the law that will allow state lawmakers to overturn Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s health orders say that could be costly when it comes to federal funding. Lawmakers overrode DeWine’s veto of that measure this week.

Unemployment and financial problems from the pandemic have brought millions of people to food banks, which are serving 150,000 more Ohioans per month than…

President Biden is pushing Congress to pour another $1.9 trillion into the COVID-ravaged economy. In the meantime, his top economic adviser says, he plans to bump up food stamp benefits.