Hunger is a huge problem for us all. According to a recent report from the Hunger Network in Ohio, there are over 33.8 million hungry people in the United States. Ohio has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country. There are 1,391,290 people in Ohio who are food insecure, and 386,430 of them are children; 1 in 7 Ohio kids live in homes struggling with food insecurity.
One of our community organizations that fight against hunger is the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC). Its mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co‑creating communities where everyone thrives. Its vision is hunger-free communities and a future where no one worries about their next meal and where every neighborhood is healthy and strong.
According to Sam Grimsley, annual giving manager, “As Ohio’s largest hunger relief organization, MOFC serves more than half a million people each year across 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio. With a network of more than 600 partner agencies, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective distributed over 80 million pounds of nutritious food in 2025, advancing our vision of hunger‑free, healthier communities.”
MOFC’s distributed a total of 80,262,273 pounds of food in the calendar year of 2025, enough food for 183,247 meals per day.
How to Help End Hunger
People can get involved with MOFC by volunteering their time (volunteers are critically needed this time of year) and by donating money and food to support its efforts. Mr. Grimsley concludes by remarking, “Our mission is powered by people who choose to speak up, share their time, and contribute their resources to help end hunger.”
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Donate Food & Personal Items to the Foodbank
The Foodbank accepts many items, including fresh fruit & vegetables, snacks, dairy & eggs, meat & protein, bread & grains, baby food & formula, pet food, soaps & toiletries. All food must be sealed in its original package. Perishable items must be kept at food-safe temperatures, i.e., frozen food must stay frozen and dairy items must stay cold.
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Donations should be delivered Monday-Friday between 8 am and 3 pm to 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City, Ohio, 43123. Pull up to garage door #1 on the east side of the building (the side facing the freeway). Go to the gray entrance door on the left and enter “Agency Services” to inform a Foodbank team member of your arrival. A team member will assist in unloading your vehicle, weighing your food, and providing you with a poundage receipt. The Foodbank cannot accept perishable, homemade, home-canned, and outdated food, bulk packages weighing more than five pounds, or food in glass containers.
Items Needed Most
If you’re collecting food on your own or holding a food drive, focus on collecting these foods first: chili with beans, tuna, canned vegetables, canned meat, soup with vegetables, peanut butter, and canned fruit in juice or light syrup.
In addition to food, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective also distributes some personal care items. If you’re looking for added value to your traditional food drive, focus on collecting these items first: shampoo & conditioner, bar soap, toothpaste, body wash, toothbrushes, and deodorant.
Or give food to your local Pantry. Find a Food Pantry Near You. If you are a farmer or store owner with lots of food to give, Set Up a Bulk Donation.
Mid-Ohio Markets
Everyone should feel good when they shop for food. That’s why the Mid-Ohio Markets feel like regular grocery stores, where you can pick your own foods, shop on evenings & weekends, get fresh food & pantry basics, talk to friendly helpers, get help with other needs, and feel welcome & comfortable. You’ll find the same quality and variety you’d expect from any market, because getting help shouldn’t feel different from your regular shopping trip.
There are eight Mid-Ohio Markets across central Ohio, so you can find fresh food close to home. Find a Mid-Ohio Market.
Mid-Ohio Farm
At Mid-Ohio Farm, learning about fresh food is as important as growing it. The MOFC farms are outdoor classrooms where people of all ages learn about fresh food, farming, and healthy eating. And every tomato, carrot, and leafy green grown goes directly to Mid-Ohio Markets or into meals prepared by our Mid-Ohio Kitchen, feeding our hungry neighbors at no cost to them.
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
The Mid-Ohio Farm helps its neighbors to grow stronger by teaching them how to grow their own food, showing kids where fresh food comes from, helping families learn about healthy eating, bringing neighbors together to learn & share, creating pathways to STEM careers, and training for careers in urban farming, controlled-environment agriculture, & agricultural technology.
Mid-Ohio Farm on the Hilltop: This innovative “smart farm” combines traditional growing wisdom with the latest technology, featuring everything from crop-harvesting technology to vertical growing systems. The site includes a community gathering space, demonstration kitchen, and state-of-the-art greenhouses.
Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4: What was once unused land behind NBC4’s studios is now a thriving three-acre demonstration farm. In partnership with NBC4 and supported by the Franklin County Commissioners, this space features an educational walking path through fruit orchards and community garden spaces.
Community Gardens: Mid-Ohio Farm’s emphasis on education is on full display in its garden spaces. There is a demonstration garden outside the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Grove City and community gardens at Wheatland Crossing Apartments (across the parking lot from the Mid-Ohio Farm on the Hilltop) and the Mid-Ohio Farm at NBC4. Neighbors have access to the community gardens and are taught how to grow their own crops with support from the Mid-Ohio Farm team.
