Benefits to be cut, needs to increase

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - More than 800,000 households in Ohio receive food stamps.

Those benefits were supposed to shrink by about $50 dollars a month starting in January but now it's only expected to decrease around $23 a month.

And food banks across the state are bracing for an increase in demand.

Officials say it's due to a change in how the government calculates utility expenses for recipients.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will send letters this month to notify those affected by the change.

The FoodBank of Dayton reports that 15% of people in Montgomery County are on food stamps and it will amount to about 15 meals per month for them.

Most food banks are already seeing an increase in need and they expect that to continue to grow due to the decrease.

"For every dollar we receive, we can provide 8 meals.  So, $2 will provide 16 meals, which will make up for those 15 meals that a family will be losing every month," says Rosemary Dannin of the FoodBank Dayton.

"We need, as far as, canned goods, soup, macaroni & cheese, cereal, milk," comments Robert Smith of Wesley Community Center.

You can also donate to our "Food for Friends" campaign.

Barrels are set up at area Kroger Stores and Huntington Bank locations to collect non-perishable food items.

Drop off your donations now through December 24.