Local moms lead effort to help SNAP recipients in Cincinnati

SNAP help has become a lifeline.

SNAP help is driving a community movement in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati-area moms and community members are stepping up in a big way to support their neighbors. They are aiding those who rely on SNAP help after benefit disruptions. 

As Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments stalled, local volunteers launched “grocery buddy” networks, coordinated food distributions, and partnered with trusted organizations to fill urgent needs.

A single mother recipient

Recently, the broadcast media outlet WCPO showed Andrea Johnson, a volunteer with the Grocery Buddies program, delivering groceries to local families in need. 

The program matches donors with households that require assistance. It works in collaboration with community organizations to ensure those most in need are supported.

One recipient, Stephanie Penvose, a single mother of two, said the help provided significant relief. This was after facing a period without SNAP benefits. 

Penvose, who has been on disability for the past three years following multiple injuries and back surgeries, described the assistance as “a huge relief” and said she was emotional when receiving the groceries.

Grocery Buddies started locally through a Hyde Park and Oakley Facebook group in late October. 

Johnson, who saw a post requesting volunteers to help local families, said she was matched with a family immediately and continues to stay in contact with them.

Community answers the call for SNAP help

When SNAP payments paused in early November due to a government shutdown, the impact was immediate in Hamilton County and beyond. 

Local pantries saw demand surge, and dozens of organizations called on residents to help bridge the gap.  

One of the most direct responses came from a group of moms who started organizing via Facebook. 

They launched a “Grocery Buddies” initiative, matching volunteers with families affected by the benefit disruption. Buddies shop or order food, sometimes using gift cards, and deliver or meet families at the store. 

And the need is real: according to Hamilton County officials, more than 52,000 families could feel the impact of the SNAP changes.  

How SNAP help is being delivered

Volunteers in the Grocery Buddies program aim to donate around $50 per person in need, but some go beyond that when they can.   

Others deliver hygiene products, pet food, or other essentials that SNAP doesn’t cover.

Organizations are also working on larger-scale efforts. The Freestore Foodbank, a major local hunger relief provider, has expanded its support. They are drawing on emergency funding to meet soaring demand. 

At the same time, Last Mile Food Rescue is playing a critical role. Their volunteers recover surplus food and distribute it directly to pantries and community kitchens. This helps keep shelves stocked when SNAP help falls short. 

Local institutions join in

Beyond individual volunteers, trusted local institutions are also mobilizing to support SNAP recipients. 

The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library is using its branch locations to distribute food. The library’s after-school meal program is now a vital resource for children. These are children whose families are experiencing hardship.

At the Healing Center, volunteers are loading up grocery bags and food boxes with warm, practical items like boxed stuffing and turkeys. They distribute them in a drive-through style to ensure safety and dignity. 

The scale of the need

The United Way of Greater Cincinnati reports that over 140,000 households in the region receive SNAP benefits.   

With so many families depending on these funds, any delay or disruption has a ripple effect on hunger in the community.

Adding to the urgency, a recent needs assessment by the Hamilton County Community Foundation shows that there aren’t enough food pantries. This shortage makes it difficult to serve all SNAP households easily. 

A movement that could last

What began as a response to an emergency has the potential to become something more. The Grocery Buddies organizers say they plan to continue helping even after SNAP benefits are restored. 

Many believe that the connections built during this crisis, between neighbors, moms, community groups, and food nonprofits, could redefine how local food security works going forward.

The volunteers aren’t just giving food; they’re building relationships. And in a time of uncertainty, that sense of community keeps people going.

Also read:

SNAP Benefits at Risk: Government Shutdown Could Halt November Payments